Two medicines, side by side
Buspirone vs escitalopram
Buspirone and escitalopram are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of buspirone since 1986 and of escitalopram since 2002. Pharmacies paid $0.043 per buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet and $0.0632 per escitalopram 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the escitalopram label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023); the escitalopram FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 1, 2023).
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 escitalopram record
Escitalopram (Lexapro) · label of October 1, 2023
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors 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 )]. Lexapro is not approved for use in pediatric patients less than 7 years of age [ s ee Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsLexapro is indicated for the treatment of: • major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. • generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 14, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0632 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Buspirone label of December 22, 2023, Escitalopram label of October 1, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do buspirone and escitalopram differ on the record?
Only the escitalopram 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.”; Escitalopram, “Elimination Biotransformation of escitalopram is mainly hepatic, with a mean terminal half-life of about 27-32 hours.”
Generics: buspirone since 2001; escitalopram since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Buspirone | Escitalopram | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression, Anxiety |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The mechanism of antidepressant action of escitalopram, the S-enantiomer of racemic citalopram, is presumed to be linked to potentiation of serotonergic activity in the central nervous system (CNS) resulting from its inhibition of CNS … |
| 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. | Elimination Biotransformation of escitalopram is mainly hepatic, with a mean terminal half-life of about 27-32 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 29, 1986 | August 14, 2002 |
| First generic approved | March 28, 2001 | July 31, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.043 per tablet (Buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet) | $0.0632 per tablet (Escitalopram 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,970 | 139,519 |
| 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)
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) …
Escitalopram label, drug interactionsConcomitant use of Lexapro and other serotonergic drugs (including other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to buspirone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions