What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buspirone and vortioxetine
Vortioxetine's FDA label of March 5, 2025 names buspirone in its drug interactions section; the buspirone label PlainMeds reads does not name vortioxetine. The vortioxetine 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 vortioxetine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 5, 2025, Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.).
What does the buspirone label say about vortioxetine?
Buspirone's label (effective December 22, 2023) does not name vortioxetine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
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 vortioxetine label say about buspirone?
Vortioxetine label, drug interactionsExamples Other SNRIs, SSRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St. John's Wort Strong Inhibitors of CYP2D6 Clinical Impact Concomitant use of TRINTELLIX with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors increases plasma concentrations of vortioxetine. Intervention Reduce TRINTELLIX dose by half when a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor is coadministered [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ].
Vortioxetine label, warnings and precautionsThe risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, meperidine, methadone, 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 (Trintellix), Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., effective March 5, 2025 (SPL set 1a5b68e2-14d0-419d-9ec6-1ca97145e838), 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 | Vortioxetine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anxiety | Depression |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.043 per tablet 15 mg tablet | $17.20 per tablet 10 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