What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and dexamethasone
Buspirone's FDA label of December 22, 2023 names dexamethasone in its drug interactions section; the dexamethasone labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name buspirone. The buspirone label: “… concentrations of buspirone while substances that induce CYP3A4, such as dexamethasone or certain anticonvulsants, may increase the rate of buspirone metabolism.”
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023, Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the buspirone label say about dexamethasone?
Buspirone label, drug interactionsOther Inhibitors and Inducers of CYP3A4 Substances that inhibit CYP3A4, such as ketoconazole or ritonavir, may inhibit buspirone metabolism and increase plasma concentrations of buspirone while substances that induce CYP3A4, such as dexamethasone or certain anticonvulsants (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine), may increase the rate of buspirone metabolism.
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 dexamethasone label say about buspirone?
Dexamethasone's label (effective June 6, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name buspirone in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Dexamethasone Intensol), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set b15200fb-1826-472b-a907-e677a272513b), 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 | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
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