Buspirone

Uses of Buspirone

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medicine that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety.

Buspirone is used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms.

Buspirone is not an anti-psychotic medication and should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor for psychotic disorders.

Precautions and Warnings

Do not use buspirone if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

You should not use buspirone if you are allergic to it.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions: kidney disease; or liver disease.

Buspirone is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether buspirone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Buspirone is not FDA-approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old, but this medicine has been used in children and adolescents under close medical supervision and at the appropriate dosage.

Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety:

Initial dose: 7.5 mg orally two times a day or 5 mg 3 times a day.
Maintenance dose: The daily dose may be increased in 5 mg increments every 2 to 3 days up to 20 to 60 mg/day in divided doses.
Maximum dose: 60 mg per day

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Lightheadedness
• Excitement