Buspirone – What it is for, Dosage and Side Effects

Buspirone – What it is for, Dosage and Side Effects that we should all know. Additionally, buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication that affects chemicals in the brain that may be out of balance in people with anxiety . Buspirone is used to treat symptoms of anxiety , such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, heartbeat, and other physical symptoms. Buspirone is not an antipsychotic medication and should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor for mental illness.

Before Taking This Medicine:  You should not use buspirone if you are allergic to it. Do not use buspirone if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. An interaction of dangerous drugs could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. To make sure this medication is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

• Kidney disease;
• Liver disease.

Buspirone is not expected to harm the fetus. 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 whether it could harm a breastfeeding baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Buspirone is not approved for use by anyone under the age of 18.

How to Take Buspirone:  Take buspirone exactly as prescribed for you. Follow all instructions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medication in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. You can take buspirone with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

Some buspirone tablets are graded so that you can break the tablet into 2 or 3 pieces in order to take a smaller amount of medicine in each dose. Do not use a tablet if it has not been broken properly and the part is too large or too small. Follow your doctor’s instructions on how much of the tablet to take.

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

This medication can cause false positive results with certain medical tests. You may need to stop using the drug at least 48 hours before the test. Tell any doctor treating you that you are using buspirone . Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat and light.

What Happens if You 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 medication to make up for the missed dose.

What to Do if Overdose Happens:  Seek emergency medical attention or call the helpline on 192.

What to Avoid:  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 buspirone . Grapefruitand Grapefruit juice can interact with buspirone and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of Grapefruit products with your doctor.

Buspirone Side Effects:  Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to buspirone : hives; Difficult breathing; Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Chest pain;
• Shortness of breathe;
• A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects of buspirone can include:

• Headache ;
• Dizziness, drowsiness;
• Sleep problems ( insomnia );
• Nausea , stomach pain ; or
• Feeling nervous or excited.

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

Buspirone Dosage Information:

Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety:

Initial Dose: 7.5 mg orally twice a day or 5 mg 3 times a day.
Maintenance Dose: The daily dose can 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

Usual Pediatric Dose for Anxiety:

6 to 18 years:  Starting dose: 2.5 to 10 mg daily.
Maintenance Dose: The daily dose may be increased in increments of 2.5 mg every 2 to 3 days to 15 to 60 mg per day in 2 divided doses.

Study (n = 26) Moderately Severe Anxiety and Aggression:
 5 to 15 years: 5 mg daily, titrated up every 3 days by 5 to 10 mg, to a maximum of 50 mg daily dose.

Study (n = 22) Anxiety and irritability in children with pervasive developmental disorders:
6 to 17 years: 5 mg three times daily, with a maximum value of 45 mg/day within 3 weeks.

Other Drugs That Will Affect Buspirone:  Taking this drug with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can make these effects worse. Ask your doctor before taking buspirone with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medication, muscle relaxant, or medication for anxiety , depression , or seizures.

Other drugs can interact with buspirone , including prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all the medications you use now and any medications you start or stop using.