Buspirone

Buspirone is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Buspirone belongs to a group of drugs called anxiolytics. It is unknown exactly how buspirone works, but some studies have shown that it works by changing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and dopamine.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 2 or 3 times a day. You may take buspirone either with or without food, but take it consistently, either always with food or always without food.

Common side effects of buspirone include nausea, headache, and lightheadedness.

This medication can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how buspirone affects you.

Buspirone is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety disorders. It is also used for short-term treatment of symptoms related to anxiety. Sometimes, buspirone is used to treat symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Buspirone may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• BuSpar

• Vanspar

Serious side effects have been reported with buspirone. See the “Buspirone Precautions” section.

Common side effects of buspirone include the following:

• upset stomach
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• headache
• dry mouth
• depression
• excitement
• fatigue
• nervousness
• difficulty sleeping
• lightheadedness
• weakness
• numbness

This is not a complete list of buspirone side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Barbita, Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• dexamethasone (Decadron, others)
• diazepam (Valium)
• diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac)
• erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin, others)
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• muscle relaxants
• nefazodone (Serzone)
• pain medications or narcotics
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• ritonavir (Norvir)
• sedatives
• sleeping pills
• tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) or thioridazine (Mellaril)
• trazodone (Desyrel)
• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)

This is not a complete list of buspirone drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with buspirone including the following:

• changes in cognitive and motor performance
• skin rash or itching
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• blurred vision
• unusual movements of the head or neck

Buspirone can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how buspirone affects you.

Do not take buspirone if you:

• are allergic to buspirone or to any of its ingredients

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with buspirone and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Before taking buspirone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to buspirone or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had kidney disease
• have or have had liver disease
• have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Buspirone falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with buspirone. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if buspirone crosses into human milk. Buspirone and its metabolites are excreted in animal milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, buspirone should not be administered to nursing women.

Take buspirone exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 2 or 3 times a day. Buspirone may be taken with or without food, but take it consistently: either always with food or always without food.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of buspirone at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended initial dose of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety is 7.5 mg twice daily. The dose may be increased every 2 to 3 days based on patient response. The maximum daily dose of buspirone is 60 mg.

If you take too much buspirone, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If buspirone is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store buspirone at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.