buspirone
Brand names: BuSpar
Buspirone is a medicine that can help manage anxiety disorders. It can also provide short-term relief from anxiety symptoms.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.03/unit
Generic Available
Yes (15 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Buspirone is used to manage anxiety disorders.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Nausea, Headache
Key warnings
You should not take buspirone if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant or have taken one in the past 14 days.
How It Works
Buspirone affects certain chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced. This helps to reduce anxiety. It is different from other anxiety medicines like benzodiazepines.
How to Take It
Start with 15 mg per day, split into two doses (7.5 mg twice a day). Your doctor may increase the dose by 5 mg every 2 to 3 days as needed. Do not take more than 60 mg per day. Take buspirone the same way each time, either always with food or always without food.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if buspirone will harm your unborn baby. Buspirone may pass into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store buspirone at room temperature (68° to 77°F) in a closed container, away from light and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,921 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 10,228 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
10,228
Death-Related Reports
694
Hospitalization Reports
2,354
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 759 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 744 |
| 3 | HEADACHE | 675 |
| 4 | ANXIETY | 636 |
| 5 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 634 |
| 6 | PAIN | 541 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 519 |
| 8 | DEPRESSION | 477 |
| 9 | DIZZINESS | 472 |
| 10 | DIARRHOEA | 465 |
| 11 | PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE | 434 |
| 12 | FALL | 389 |
| 13 | OFF LABEL USE | 337 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 323 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 321 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
You should not take buspirone if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant or have taken one in the past 14 days. Do not start buspirone if you are being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a very serious condition.
Known Drug Interactions
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the interactio...
Mechanism: Combining these medications can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure or a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: You should generally avoid taking these two medications together to prevent severe and life-threatening side effects.
Risk of serotonin syndrome with concomitant therapy with other serotonergic drugs such as SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs increase a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Having too much serotonin can lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Tell your doctor if you feel very restless, confused, or have a fast heartbeat. Your doctor will decide if it is safe for you to take both medicines.
Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of citalopram and other serotonergic drugs (including other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St.
Mechanism: Both of these medications increase a brain chemical called serotonin. Using them together can cause serotonin levels to rise too high.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the risks and watch for symptoms like confusion, sweating, or a fast heartbeat.
buspirone, diazepam, estazolam, zolpidem ↑ sedatives/hypnotics Titration is recommended when co-administering darunavir/ritonavir with sedatives/hypnotics metabolized by CYP3A and a lower dose of the sedatives/hypnotics should be considered with monitoring for adverse events.
Mechanism: Darunavir blocks the enzyme that breaks down buspirone, which can lead to higher levels of the medication in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should consider starting with a lower dose of buspirone and monitor you closely for side effects.
Examples other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St.
Mechanism: Both of these medications increase a brain chemical called serotonin, which can cause an additive effect.
What to do: Watch for signs of too much serotonin, such as fever or a fast heartbeat, and tell your doctor if they occur.
Common Questions
Can I take buspirone with other anxiety medications?
How long does it take for buspirone to start working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking buspirone?
Will buspirone make me sleepy?
Can I stop taking buspirone suddenly?
Does buspirone have any drug interactions?
Can I drive while taking buspirone?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Is buspirone addictive?
How often will I see my doctor while taking buspirone?
What are the common side effects of buspirone?
Does buspirone interact with other medications?
What drug class is buspirone?
Is buspirone safe during pregnancy?
Has buspirone been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations
Northwind Pharmaceuticals LLC
Related Medications in Azapirone Anxiolytic
Other drugs grouped near buspirone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
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alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
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amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for buspirone
The FDA label for buspirone (sold under brand names such as BuSpar) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Azapirone Anxiolytic class. Buspirone is used to manage anxiety disorders. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Nausea, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,921 voluntary reports. The database also lists 17 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.03.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 3, 2019
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages