Two medicines, side by side
Buspirone vs duloxetine
Buspirone and duloxetine are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of buspirone since 1986 and of duloxetine since 2004. Pharmacies paid $0.043 per buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet and $0.102 per duloxetine HCl DR 30 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the duloxetine label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023); the duloxetine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 14, 2024).
Highlights of the buspirone record
Buspirone (Buspar) · label of December 22, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsBuspirone hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 29, 1986
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.043 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Highlights of the duloxetine record
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) · label of May 14, 2024
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studies. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsDRIZALMA SPRINKLE is indicated for the treatment of: • Major Depressive Disorder in adults • Generalized Anxiety Disorder in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in adults • Fibromyalgia in adults • Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in adults Additional pediatric use information is approved for Eli Lilly and Company, Inc.’s CYMBALTA (duloxetine delayed-release capsules). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 3, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.102 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 56
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Buspirone label of December 22, 2023, Duloxetine label of May 14, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do buspirone and duloxetine differ on the record?
Only the duloxetine label carries a boxed warning.
Half-life, in each label's words: Buspirone, “The average elimination half-life of unchanged buspirone after single doses of 10 mg to 40 mg is about 2 to 3 hours.”; Duloxetine, “Mean terminal half-life was 12.4 hours (range 7.8 to 22.2 hour) in subjects receiving a single dose DRIZALMA SPRINKLE.”
Generics: buspirone since 2001; duloxetine since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Buspirone | Duloxetine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression, Anxiety, Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Although the exact mechanisms of the antidepressant, central pain inhibitory and anxiolytic actions of duloxetine in humans are unknown, these actions are believed to be related to its potentiation of serotonergic and noradrenergic … |
| Half-life (label) | The average elimination half-life of unchanged buspirone after single doses of 10 mg to 40 mg is about 2 to 3 hours. | Mean terminal half-life was 12.4 hours (range 7.8 to 22.2 hour) in subjects receiving a single dose DRIZALMA SPRINKLE. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 29, 1986 | August 3, 2004 |
| First generic approved | March 28, 2001 | December 11, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.043 per tablet (Buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet) | $0.102 per capsule (Duloxetine HCl DR 30 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | +31% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 56 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,970 | 69,298 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Duloxetine label, drug interactionsExamples Other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort Inhibitors of CYP1A2 Clinical Impact Concomitant use of duloxetine with CYP1A2 inhibitors increases AUC, C max, t 1/2 of duloxetine. …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Buspirone label, warningsSerotonin Syndrome The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome has been reported with SNRIs, SSRIs, and other serotonergic drugs, including buspirone, alone but particularly with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans), with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (in particular, MAOIs, including reversible MAOIs such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) …
Duloxetine label, drug interactionsExamples Selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, intravenous methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of duloxetine with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to buspirone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions