BuSpar (buspirone) is an anti-anxiety medicine that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety.

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

BuSpar is not an anti-psychotic medication and should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor for mental illness.

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

Take this medication by mouth, usually 2 or 3 times a day or as directed by your doctor. You may take this medication with or without food, but it is important to choose one way and always take it the same way so that the amount of drug absorbed will always be the same.

Buspirone may come in a tablet that can be split to get the correct dose for you. Follow the manufacturer's Patient Instruction Sheet or ask your pharmacist how to split the tablet to get your dose.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day. When this medication is started, symptoms of anxiety (e.g., restlessness) may sometimes get worse before they improve. It may take up to a month or more to get the full effect of this medication.

Inform your doctor if your symptoms persist or worsen.

Do not use BuSpar if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

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

Do not use BuSpar if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

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

• kidney disease; or
• liver disease.

BuSpar is not expected to harm an unborn baby. 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 if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Buspirone is not FDA-approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old, but has been used in children in adolescents under close medical supervision. Do not give buspirone to anyone younger than 18 years of age without consulting with a doctor.

Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, nervousness, lightheadedness, restlessness, blurred vision, tiredness, and trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Rarely, patients taking buspirone may develop movement disorders such as shakiness (tremors), muscle stiffness, mask-like facial expression, jerky walking movements, or a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, these conditions may be permanent. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any unusual/uncontrolled movements (especially of the face, mouth, tongue, arms, or legs).

Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist .

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• kidney or liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to buspirone, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You may take this medicine with or without food. To ensure that this medicine always works the same way for you, you should take it either always with or always without food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• linezolid
• MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
• methylene blue
• procarbazine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• diazepam
• digoxin
• diltiazem
• erythromycin
• grapefruit juice
• haloperidol
• medicines for mental depression or mood problems
• edicines for seizures like carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin
• nefazodone
• other medications for anxiety
• ifampin
• ritonavir
• some antifungal medicines like itraconazole, ketoconazole, and voriconazole
• verapamil
• warfarin