What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and desvenlafaxine
Desvenlafaxine's FDA label of January 27, 2023 names buspirone in its warnings and precautions section; buspirone's label does not name desvenlafaxine itself but warns about its class (SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)). The desvenlafaxine label: “The risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin, i.e., MAOIs.”
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023, Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.); the desvenlafaxine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2023, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited).
What does the buspirone label say about desvenlafaxine?
Buspirone's label does not name desvenlafaxine itself; it warns about its class (SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)):
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), or with antipsychotics or other dopamine antagonists.
Source: FDA drug label (Buspirone Hydrochloride), Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc., effective December 22, 2023 (SPL set a6bdf140-075e-445e-a62d-633a4b97f3a8), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the desvenlafaxine label say about buspirone?
Desvenlafaxine label, warnings and precautionsSerotonin Syndrome: Serotonin syndrome has been reported with SSRIs and SNRIs, including with desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets, both when taken alone, but especially when co-administered with other serotonergic agents (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John's Wort). If such symptoms occur, discontinue desvenlafaxine and initiate supportive treatment.
Pristiq Extended-Release label (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., April 28, 2026), drug interactionsExamples other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact Concomitant use of PRISTIQ with an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug may potentiate the risk of bleeding. This may be due to the effect of PRISTIQ on the release of serotonin by platelets. Intervention Closely monitor for bleeding for patients receiving an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug when PRISTIQ is initiated or discontinued [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ].
Pristiq Extended-Release label (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., April 28, 2026), warnings and precautionsThe risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, meperidine, methadone, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John's Wort) and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin, i.e., MAOIs [see Contraindications (4), Drug Interactions (7.1) ].
Source: FDA drug label (Pristiq Extended-Release, NDA021992), Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., effective April 28, 2026 (SPL set 0f43610c-f290-46ea-d186-4f998ed99fce), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Desvenlafaxine), Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited, effective January 27, 2023 (SPL set 9f74708c-6f6a-46cf-8c79-87a25c2bb6f8), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Buspirone | Desvenlafaxine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $0.396 per unit 50 mg |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once