Comparing Buspirone vs Lithium

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Buspirone	Lithium	Enter another drug to compare

Buspirone

Lithium

Prescription only

Buspirone may be used for the treatment of anxiety and is less likely to cause sedation than other anti-anxiety drugs. Prescribed for Sexual Dysfunction - SSRI Induced, Anxiety, Panic Disorder... View more

Prescription only

Lithium may be used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder; however, there is a fine line between too much and too little, and ongoing monitoring is needed to prevent lithium... View more

More about Buspirone

More about Lithium

Ratings & Reviews

Buspirone has an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from a total of 1362 ratings on Drugs.com. 49% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 35% reported a negative effect.

Lithium has an average rating of 7.3 out of 10 from a total of 493 ratings on Drugs.com. 66% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 20% reported a negative effect.

View all 1362 reviews

View all 493 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Dizziness (19.2%)
Anxiety (11.8%)
Nausea (8.1%)
Headaches (7.2%)
Insomnia (7.0%)
Tiredness (5.6%)
Panic attacks (5.0%)

View all Buspirone side effects

Tremors (13.0%)
Weight gain (10.1%)
Thirst (8.7%)
Nausea (6.3%)
Depression (5.9%)
Anxiety (5.3%)
Hair loss (3.7%)

View all Lithium side effects

Drug Class

Miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics

Antimanic agents

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	50 each
Strength	15 mg
Per unit^*	$0.68
Cost^*	$34.00

View all Buspirone prices

Quantity	100 each
Strength	300 mg
Per unit^*	$0.22
Cost^*	$22.35

View all Lithium prices

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Dosage Forms

Oral tablet

Oral capsule
Oral syrup
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, extended release

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

11.3 hours

29 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 531 drugs are known to interact with Buspirone:

107 major drug interactions (445 brand and generic names)
421 moderate drug interactions (1573 brand and generic names)
3 minor drug interactions (7 brand and generic names)

A total of 723 drugs are known to interact with Lithium:

185 major drug interactions (709 brand and generic names)
501 moderate drug interactions (2103 brand and generic names)
37 minor drug interactions (261 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

You should avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with busPIRone. Alcohol can increase the... View more

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of lithium such as dizziness, drowsiness, and... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

September 29, 1986

April 06, 1970

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Buspirone uses

Lithium uses

Professional Resources

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Comparing Buspirone vs Lithium

See also:

Lexapro

Xanax

Ozempic

Cymbalta

Paroxetine

Diazepam

Lorazepam

Venlafaxine

Alprazolam

Duloxetine

Further information

Comparing Buspirone vs Lithium

See also:

Further information

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