What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and sertraline
Sertraline's FDA label of August 8, 2023 names buspirone in its drug interactions section; buspirone's label does not name sertraline itself but warns about its class (serotonin reuptake inhibitors). The sertraline label: “The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with ZOLOFT increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.”
Check it at the source: the buspirone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 22, 2023, Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.); the sertraline FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 8, 2023, Viatris Specialty LLC).
What does the buspirone label say about sertraline?
Buspirone's label does not name sertraline itself; it warns about its class (serotonin 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 sertraline label say about buspirone?
Sertraline label, drug interactionsClinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with ZOLOFT increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. … Precautions (5.2) ]. Other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort.
Sertraline label, 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) ].
Sertraline Hcl label (Almatica Pharma LLC, August 24, 2023), drug interactionsOther Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Sertraline HCl Capsules with other serotonergic drugs (…) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly during treatment initiation and dosage increases. If serotonin syndrome occurs, consider discontinuation of Sertraline HCl Capsules and/or concomitant serotonergic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ()].
Source: FDA drug label (Sertraline Hcl, NDA215133), Almatica Pharma LLC, effective August 24, 2023 (SPL set 8c8bcba9-eaeb-aa44-f9ea-b580de55a439), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Sertraline Hydrochloride, NDA020990), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective September 15, 2024 (SPL set 1a58062b-e635-431a-908d-2651c6a4a21c), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Zoloft), Viatris Specialty LLC, effective August 8, 2023 (SPL set fda754f6-d0f3-4dce-a17a-927d64f912f7), 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 | Sertraline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression, Anxiety |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $0.0507 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