Buspirone Hydrochloride

💊 What is Buspirone Hydrochloride used for?

• •The label says buspirone is used to manage anxiety disorders or to give short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. Its effectiveness was shown in studies of people whose condition roughly matches Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), including people who also had some depressive symptoms. The label notes that anxiety from everyday stress usually does not need this type of treatment. It also says that effectiveness for use longer than 3 to 4 weeks has not been shown in controlled trials.

How it works

How it is usually taken

• •The label says to take buspirone consistently, either always with food or always without food, because food changes how much of the medicine the body absorbs. The tablets are scored, so they can be broken along the groove to make smaller portions. The label says to break a tablet by holding it between your thumbs and index fingers close to the score, facing the score toward you, and snapping it apart; pieces that break unevenly should not be used. The label says the dose can be adjusted to get the right response, so follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist. The label also says to avoid drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice during treatment.

Comes as

• •5 mg tablets
• •10 mg tablets (white to off-white, round, scored; debossed with "245" and "U")
• •15 mg tablets (scored)
• •30 mg tablets (scored)

⚠️ Buspirone Hydrochloride side effects

🛑 Who should not take Buspirone Hydrochloride, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You are allergic (hypersensitive) to buspirone hydrochloride.
• 🚨You take an MAOI antidepressant, or you have stopped one within the last 14 days. The label says this is contraindicated because of the risk of serotonin syndrome and/or elevated blood pressure.
• 🚨Your doctor has not directed you to start it while you take a reversible MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. The label says starting buspirone in this situation is contraindicated because of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you take, both prescription and non-prescription, along with any alcohol or drugs you use.
• •Tell your doctor if you take an MAOI. The label says to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure, including about the antibiotic linezolid.
• •Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• •The label says not to drive a car or use dangerous machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.
• •The label says it is prudent to avoid alcohol while taking buspirone.

🔀 Buspirone Hydrochloride with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •MAOIs used for depression: the label says these should not be taken with buspirone, or within 14 days of stopping either medicine.
• •Linezolid and intravenous methylene blue (reversible MAOIs): the label says buspirone should not be started in someone taking them.
• •Serotonin precursors such as tryptophan: the label says concomitant use is not recommended.
• •Triptans (a type of migraine medicine): the label says careful observation is advised if they are used together.
• •Antipsychotics and other dopamine antagonists: the label warns about serotonin syndrome with these medicines.
• •Haloperidol: the label says it was found to increase serum haloperidol levels in a study in normal volunteers; the clinical significance is not clear.
• •Trazodone: the label mentions one report of liver enzyme elevations; a similar study did not confirm this.
• •Nefazodone and other drugs that affect CYP3A4 (an enzyme that breaks down buspirone): the label says dose recommendations apply, so follow your prescriber's instructions. It also mentions avoiding large amounts of grapefruit juice.
• •Amitriptyline: no significant change in its levels was seen when buspirone was added.
• •Diazepam: no significant change in its levels was seen, but a rise of about 15% was seen for its metabolite nordiazepam, with minor effects such as dizziness, headache, and nausea.
• •Triazolam or flurazepam: the label says these did not appear to prolong or increase their sedative effects.
• •Other CNS-active drugs: the label says these should be used with caution, since most other psychotropic drugs have not been studied with buspirone.

Alcohol and food

The label says buspirone should be taken either always with food or always without food, not sometimes one and sometimes the other. The label says formal studies found buspirone does not increase alcohol-related impairment in motor and mental performance, but it is prudent to avoid combining alcohol and buspirone. It also says to avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice.

🤰 Buspirone Hydrochloride in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label lists this as Pregnancy Category B. It says no fertility problems or fetal damage were seen in animal studies, but adequate studies in pregnant humans have not been done. The label says buspirone should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. The effect on labor and delivery is unknown.

Breastfeeding

The label says it is not known how much buspirone passes into human milk. In rats, buspirone and its metabolites pass into milk. The label says use in nursing women should be avoided if clinically possible.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The label says to store at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit), at controlled room temperature. It says to keep the medicine in a tight, light-resistant container with a child-resistant closure where required, and to keep it out of reach of children.

If a dose is missed

The label does not say.

If too much is taken

The label says that in clinical pharmacology trials, healthy volunteers were given doses as high as 375 mg per day. As this dose was approached, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, miosis (small pupils), and stomach distress were seen. A few overdoses were reported, and recovery was complete in the usual outcome. No deaths were reported from buspirone overdose alone. The label says rare fatal intentional overdoses involved multiple drugs and/or alcohol, and a cause from buspirone could not be determined. The label does not list specific first-aid steps, so follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Buspirone Hydrochloride

• Is buspirone right for my type of anxiety, and how long will I need it?
• How should I take it: with food or without food, and should I break the scored tablets?
• Are any of my current medicines, including MAOIs, linezolid, or triptans, a concern with buspirone?
• What signs of serotonin syndrome should I watch for, and who should I call if they appear?
• Should I avoid alcohol and grapefruit juice while taking this medicine?
• When is it safe for me to drive or use machinery while taking buspirone?
• What should I do if I become pregnant or am breastfeeding while taking it?

❓ Buspirone Hydrochloride: frequently asked questions