What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and milnacipran
Milnacipran's FDA label of September 10, 2025 names buspirone in its drug interactions section; buspirone's label does not name milnacipran itself but warns about its class (SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)). The milnacipran label: “Serotonin syndrome can occur with use of SAVELLA and other serotonergic drugs, or with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin.”
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023, Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.); the milnacipran FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 10, 2025, Allergan, Inc.).
What does the buspirone label say about milnacipran?
Buspirone's label does not name milnacipran 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 milnacipran label say about buspirone?
Milnacipran label, drug interactionsSerotonin syndrome can occur with use of SAVELLA and other serotonergic drugs (other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort), or with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (i.e., monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
Milnacipran label, warnings and precautionsThe risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, tramadol, meperidine, methadone, lithium, 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 )].
Source: FDA drug label (Savella), NDA022256 (Abbvie), as published by Allergan, Inc., effective September 10, 2025 (SPL set 16a4a314-f97e-4e91-95e9-576a3773d284), 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 | Milnacipran | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $2.82 per tablet 100 mg tablet |
| 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