buspirone hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
An azapirone anxiolytic.
Licensed role
Short-term management of anxiety disorders and relief of anxiety symptoms, with or without accompanying depressive symptoms.
Taking with food
Take consistently with food or consistently without food.
Driving
Dizziness or drowsiness can impair driving; do not drive until you know how it affects you.
What is buspirone hydrochloride used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Short-term management of anxiety disorders.
Relief of anxiety symptoms, including when depressive symptoms accompany the anxiety.
How does buspirone hydrochloride work?
Buspirone acts mainly at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. It also has dopamine D2 antagonist activity of uncertain relevance and does not act directly at benzodiazepine-GABA receptors.
buspirone hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg
How to take buspirone hydrochloride
Take the tablets exactly as prescribed. Swallow them with water and use a consistent routine because food changes buspirone exposure.
Take consistently with food or consistently without food.
Avoid large quantities of grapefruit juice.
Avoid alcohol because the combined effects have not been adequately established.
Do not alter or stop treatment without discussing it with the prescriber.
buspirone hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dizziness, headache or drowsiness
- Nervousness, insomnia, excitement or difficulty concentrating
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, constipation or dry mouth
- Blurred vision, tremor, tingling or impaired coordination
- Fatigue, sweating, rash or musculoskeletal pain
- Fast heartbeat or chest pain
Get urgent medical advice
- Facial, tongue or throat swelling; wheezing; or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- High fever, agitation, confusion, marked sweating, tremor, muscle rigidity or jerking—possible serotonin syndrome
- Seizure, fainting or severe uncontrolled movements
- Hallucinations or loss of contact with reality
- Inability to pass urine
buspirone hydrochloride in pregnancy
Human evidence remains limited, and the UK product information advises avoiding buspirone as a precaution. A small prospective registry reported no major malformations among 72 exposed infants, but this preliminary evidence cannot exclude risk. Discuss pregnancy or pregnancy plans with the prescriber rather than stopping treatment independently.
buspirone hydrochloride while breastfeeding
The UK product information recommends an individual decision between breastfeeding and buspirone treatment. A study involving nine lactating women found undetectable buspirone and low concentrations of its active metabolite in milk, with no reported infant adverse effects, but evidence remains limited. A prescriber or specialist breastfeeding medicines service should assess the medicine, infant health and alternatives.
buspirone hydrochloride interactions
Check all prescribed, pharmacy and herbal products because buspirone has important serotonergic and CYP3A4 interactions.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, including phenelzine and tranylcypromine
The combination is not recommended because substantial blood-pressure increases may occur.
SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants and other serotonergic medicines
These can increase serotonin-syndrome risk; examples include tramadol, triptans, linezolid, lithium and L-tryptophan.
Itraconazole, erythromycin and other strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
These can markedly increase buspirone exposure and adverse effects.
Common questions about buspirone hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is buspirone hydrochloride used for?
It is licensed for short-term management of anxiety disorders and relief of anxiety symptoms, including anxiety accompanied by depressive symptoms.
Is buspirone hydrochloride a benzodiazepine?
No. It is an azapirone that acts mainly through serotonin 5-HT1A receptors and does not bind directly to benzodiazepine-GABA receptors.
Can buspirone hydrochloride cause dependence?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.