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What is the most important information I should know about buspirone?
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It may be several weeks before you start to feel better, but do not
stop taking buspirone without first talking to your doctor. |
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Although unlikely, it is possible that you will
experience some drowsiness or dizziness at the start of therapy with
buspirone. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these
activities. |
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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while you are taking buspirone. |
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Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medicine. Buspirone affects chemicals
in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. |
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Buspirone is used to reduce fear, tension, and anxiety associated
with anxiety disorders. |
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Buspirone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
buspirone?
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Do not take buspirone if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Severely high
blood pressure may occur if buspirone is taken with a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor. |
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Before taking buspirone, tell your doctor if you |
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have had an allergic reaction to buspirone in the past; |
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have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as phenelzine (Nardil),
isocarboxazid (Marplan), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the last 14
days; |
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have a history of alcohol or drug addiction. |
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You may not be able to take buspirone, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Buspirone is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is
unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take buspirone without first
talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. |
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Buspirone passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant.
Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby. |
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Buspirone has not been approved for use by children younger than 18
years of age. |
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How should I take buspirone?
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Take buspirone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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It may be several weeks before you start to feel better, but do not
stop taking buspirone without first talking to your doctor. |
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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with buspirone. The
interaction could lead to potentially adverse effects. You should
discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do
not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet
without first talking to your doctor. |
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Store buspirone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only
your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of
this medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical treatment. |
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The symptoms of a buspirone overdose include drowsiness, very deep
sleep, nausea, vomiting, and unusually small pupils. |
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What should I avoid while taking buspirone?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Although unlikely, it is possible that you will
experience some drowsiness or dizziness at the start of therapy with
buspirone. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these
activities. |
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• |
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while you are taking buspirone. |
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Buspirone may increase the effects of other drugs that cause
drowsiness, including antidepressants, antihistamines, sedatives (used
to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle
relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and
do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine without first
talking to your doctor. |
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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with buspirone. The
interaction could lead to potentially adverse effects. You should
discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do
not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet
without first talking to your doctor. |
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What are the possible side effects of buspirone?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking buspirone and seek emergency medical attention: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; hives); |
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chest pain or an irregular heartbeat; |
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headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, slurred speech, confusion, or
blurred vision; |
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numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, arms, or legs; |
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uncontrollable movements of your arms, legs, tongue, or lips. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take buspirone and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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an increase in nightmares or dreams. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect buspirone?
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Do not take buspirone if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Severely high
blood pressure may occur if buspirone is taken with a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor. |
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Before taking buspirone, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following medicines: |
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itraconazole (Sporanox); |
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erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Eryc, others); or |
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You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. |
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Buspirone may increase the effects of other drugs that cause
drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines,
sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines,
and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are
taking, and do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine
without first talking to your doctor. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with buspirone.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about buspirone written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.07. Revision date: 7/
29/ 04. |
