What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and venlafaxine
Venlafaxine's FDA label of August 15, 2023 names buspirone in its drug interactions section; buspirone's label does not name venlafaxine itself but warns about its class (SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)). The venlafaxine label: “Clinical Impact; Concomitant use of Effexor XR with other serotonergic drugs 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 venlafaxine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 15, 2023, Viatris Specialty LLC).
What does the buspirone label say about venlafaxine?
Buspirone's label does not name venlafaxine 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 venlafaxine label say about buspirone?
Venlafaxine label, drug interactionsClinical Impact; Concomitant use of Effexor XR with other serotonergic drugs (including other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Venlafaxine 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) ].
Source: FDA drug label (Venlafaxine, NDA215429), Almatica Pharma LLC, effective October 9, 2025 (SPL set e81a2daf-b8b2-7c05-b532-bc775700b100), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Venlafaxine Hydrochloride, NDA022104), Trigen Laboratories, LLC, effective July 31, 2025 (SPL set fdaed1c2-dd0a-4bf3-975a-86fe3e7f0c97), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Effexor XR), NDA020699 (Upjohn), as published by Viatris Specialty LLC, effective August 15, 2023 (SPL set c848a5d8-ba94-4c84-80e3-0bf35fb8e32e), 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 | Venlafaxine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression, Anxiety |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $0.0799 per capsule 75 mg capsule |
| 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