buspirone vs citalopram
Side-by-side comparison of buspirone and citalopram. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
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.
Recommendation: Talk to your doctor about the risks and watch for symptoms like confusion, sweating, or a fast heartbeat.
BuSpar
Celexa
Buspirone is a medicine that can help manage anxiety disorders. It can also provide short-term relief from anxiety symptoms.
Citalopram is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Buspirone is used to manage anxiety disorders. It can also help relieve anxiety symptoms for a short time. This medicine is often used for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which involves constant worry and tension.
Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and difficulty functioning in daily life. This medicine can help improve your mood and overall well-being.
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.
Citalopram works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood. By blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, citalopram helps to improve communication between nerve cells and stabilize mood.
- • Dizziness
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Nervousness
- • Lightheadedness
- • Ejaculation disorder (mostly delayed ejaculation)
- Tiredness 759
- Feeling sick to your stomach 744
- Head pain 675
- Worry 636
- Aches 541
- Tiredness 8,930
- Feeling sick to your stomach 8,204
- Head pain 6,654
- Loose stools 6,214
- Discomfort 5,899
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Citalopram is not approved for use in children.
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.
Taking citalopram late in pregnancy may cause problems for the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes, call 1-844-405-6185 to register.
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How to Read This buspirone vs citalopram Comparison
buspirone is classified in the Azapirone Anxiolytic drug class, while citalopram sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, buspirone has 3,355 submissions while citalopram has 35,901. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medications increase a brain chemical called serotonin. using them together can cause serotonin levels to rise too high.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between buspirone and citalopram - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.