Two medicines, side by side
Buspirone vs hydroxyzine
Buspirone and hydroxyzine are both labeled for anxiety. Drugs@FDA records approvals of buspirone since 1986 and of hydroxyzine since 1956. Pharmacies paid $0.043 per buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet and $0.0326 per hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023); the hydroxyzine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026).
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 hydroxyzine record
Hydroxyzine (Atarax) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFor symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested. Useful in the management of pruritus due to allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria and atopic and contact dermatoses and in histamine-mediated pruritus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 12, 1956
- Generic labelers
- 61 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0326 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Buspirone label of December 22, 2023, Hydroxyzine label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do buspirone and hydroxyzine differ on the record?
Generics: buspirone since 2001; hydroxyzine since 1979 (Drugs@FDA).
| Buspirone | Hydroxyzine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Anxiety, Alcohol use disorder |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Antihistamine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 29, 1986 | April 12, 1956 |
| First generic approved | March 28, 2001 | August 24, 1979 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 61 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.043 per tablet (Buspirone HCl 15 mg tablet) | $0.0326 per tablet (Hydroxyzine HCl 25 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,970 | 50,844 |
| 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) …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to buspirone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions