Buspirone (By mouth)
bue-SPYE-rone
Treats anxiety.
Drug classes
Antianxiety (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Buspirone is used to treat certain anxiety disorders or to relieve the symptoms of anxiety. However, buspirone usually is not used for anxiety or tension caused by the stress of everyday life.
It is not known exactly how buspirone works to relieve the symptoms of anxiety. Buspirone is thought to work by decreasing the amount and actions of a chemical known as serotonin in certain parts of the brain.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
You may take this medicine with or without food, but take it the same way each time.
You may need to take this medicine for 1 or 2 weeks before you begin to feel better.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
You should not use buspirone when you are also using an MAO inhibitor (such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®).
Do not eat grapefruit, drink grapefruit juice, or drink alcohol while you are using buspirone.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using cimetidine (Tagamet®), dexamethasone (Decadron®), diltiazem (Cardizem®, Tiazac®), erythromycin (Erythro-Tab®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), nefazodone (Serzone®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®), verapamil (Calan®, Covera®), or medicine for seizures (such as Dilantin®, Luminal®, Tegretol®).
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, or sedatives).
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to buspirone.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or liver disease.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Fast or pounding heartbeat
Numbness or tingling feeling
Tremors or shaking
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Drowsiness or weakness
Dry mouth
Feeling restless or nervous, trouble sleeping
Nausea, constipation, upset stomach
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Buspar, Buspar Dividose, Vanspar
There may be other brand names for this medicine.