BuSpar

Generic Name: buspirone (byoo SPYE rone)
Brand Name: BuSpar, BuSpar Dividose, Vanspar

What is BuSpar?

BuSpar (buspirone) is an anti-anxiety medicine that affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

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

BuSpar may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about BuSpar

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

Do not use BuSpar if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Video: Treatment for Depression

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of BuSpar.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with BuSpar and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

BuSpar is usually taken for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 weeks without your doctor's advice.

Before taking BuSpar

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

Do not use BuSpar if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

To make sure BuSpar is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

• kidney disease; or

• liver disease.

FDA pregnancy category B. BuSpar is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

See also: Buspar pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

It is not known whether buspirone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

How should I take BuSpar?

Take BuSpar exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

BuSpar is usually taken for only a short time, such as 3 or 4 weeks. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

You may take BuSpar with or without food but take it the same way each time.

The Buspar Dividose tablet may need to be broken before you take the medicine. The tablets have special scored marks on them to make breaking the tablet easy. Do not use the tablet if it has not broken correctly and the piece is too big or too small. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much of the tablet to take.

If you have been switched to BuSpar from another anxiety medication, you may need to slowly decrease your dose of the other medication rather than stopping suddenly. Some anxiety medications can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them suddenly after long-term use.

While using BuSpar, you may need frequent blood tests at your doctor's office.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

See also: Buspar dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while taking BuSpar?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of BuSpar.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with BuSpar and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

BuSpar side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to BuSpar: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• chest pain;

• feeling short or breath; or

• feeling like you might pass out.

Other common BuSpar side effects may include:

• dizziness, headache, blurred vision;

• drowsiness, feeling tired;

• feeling restless or nervous;

• nausea, dry mouth, upset stomach;

• sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;

• stuffy nose, sore throat; or

• ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Buspar side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect BuSpar?

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by BuSpar.

Tell your doctor about all medications you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with BuSpar, especially:

• bosentan (Tracleer);

• cimetidine (Tagamet);

• conivaptan (Vaprisol);

• dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dexasone, Solurex, DexPak);

• haloperidol (Haldol);

• nefazodone;

• St. John's wort;

• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), rifapentine (Priftin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

• antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend);

• a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

• heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or

• the hepatitis C medications boceprevir (Victrelis) or telaprevir (Incivek);

• HIV/AIDS medication such as efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase);

• medicines to treat narcolepsy, such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) or modafinil (Progivil); or

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with BuSpar, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about BuSpar.