Buspirone hydrochloride oral
- Drugs List
- Therapeutic Indications
- Dosage
- Contraindications
- Precautions and Warnings
- Pregnancy and Lactation
- Side Effects
- Monograph
Presentation
Oral formulations of buspirone.
Drugs List
Therapeutic Indications
Uses
Anxiety disorders: short term management
Dosage
Adults
Initial dose: 5mg two to three times daily. Increased if necessary every 2 to 3 days.
Maintenance dose: 15mg to 30mg in divided doses.
Maximum dose 45mg in divided doses. Some manufacturers recommend a maximum dose of 60mg per day.
Patients with Renal Impairment
Creatinine clearance 20 to 49 ml/minute: Consider a lower dosage and twice daily administration.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment
Individual dosages should be titrated for patients with liver cirrhosis. Increased dosage should be considered carefully after 4 to 5 days experience with the initial dosage.
Contraindications
Acute alcohol intoxication
Children under 18 years
Drug intoxication
Within 2 weeks of discontinuing MAOIs
Breastfeeding
Epileptic disorder
Galactosaemia
Pregnancy
Renal impairment - creatinine clearance below 20ml/minute
Severe hepatic impairment
Precautions and Warnings
Acute narrow angle glaucoma
Drug misuse
Glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome
History of hepatic impairment
History of renal impairment
Lactose intolerance
Mild hepatic impairment
Mild renal impairment
Myasthenia gravis
Reduce dose in patients with renal impairment
Advise patient ability to drive or operate machinery may be impaired
Advise patient not to drive until they know how the medicine affects them
Advise patient this medicine may be subject to driving restrictions
Not to be used as sole treatment where depression is predominant
Contains lactose
Take at the same time in respect to food as absorption may be affected
Consider dose adjustment in hepatic cirrhosis
Advise patient not to take St John's wort concurrently
Advise patient that the effects of alcohol may be potentiated
Advise patient to avoid alcohol during treatment
Advise patient grapefruit products may increase plasma level
Advise gradual withdrawal of benzodiazepines prior to treatment
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy
Buspirone is contraindicated during pregnancy.
The manufacturer does not recommend using buspirone during pregnancy. At the time of writing there is limited human data available, the effects of buspirone on labour and delivery is unknown. High doses have been associated with adverse effects.
Lactation
Buspirone is contraindicated during breastfeeding.
The presence of buspirone in human breast milk is unknown. The manufacturer suggests a decision must be made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue/abstain from buspirone treatment, taking into account the benefit of breastfeeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Operate Machinery
This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (England and Wales). When prescribing this medicine: Advise patient the medicine can affect cognitive function and is likely to affect ability to drive. Advise patient not to drive until they know how the medicine affects them.
Counselling
Taking buspirone with food causes more to be absorbed. It should be taken at the same time each day and consistently with or without food.
Advise patients to avoid grapefruit juice.
Advise patients that they should avoid alcohol.
Advise patient not to take St John's wort concurrently.
Since early and transient adverse events may occur, patients should be cautioned not to drive or operate machines until they are certain that buspirone hydrochloride does not affect them adversely.
Response to treatment may take up to two weeks.
Side Effects
Abdominal pain
Akathisia
Amnesia
Anger
Angioneurotic oedema
Ataxia
Attention disturbances
Blurred vision
Chest pain
Clamminess
Cold sweat
Confusion
Constipation
Depersonalisation
Depression
Diarrhoea
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Dyskinesia
Dystonia
Ecchymosis
Excitement
Extrapyramidal effects
Fatigue
Galactorrhoea
Hallucinations
Headache
Impaired co-ordination
Insomnia
Lability of affect
Light-headedness
Musculoskeletal pain
Nasal congestion
Nausea
Nervousness
Palpitations
Paraesthesia
Parkinsonism
Pharyngolaryngeal pain
Psychotic disorder
Rash
Restless legs
Restlessness
Rigidity
Seizures
Serotonin syndrome
Somnolence
Sweating
Syncope
Tachycardia
Tinnitus
Tremor
Urinary retention
Urticaria
Vomiting
Overdosage
It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.
The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111
Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).
Further Information
Last Full Review Date: June 2019
Reference Sources
Summary of Product Characteristics: Buspirone 7.5mg tablets. Strides Pharma UK Ltd. Revised January 2019.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Buspirone 15mg tablets. Zentiva Pharma UK Ltd. Revised July 2021.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Buspirone 30mg tablets. Zentiva Pharma UK Ltd. Revised July 2021.
Gov.uk. Government departments. Department for Transport. Publications. Drug driving and medicine: Advice for healthcare professionals. Drug driving: Guidance for healthcare professionals on drug driving. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/ Last accessed: 19 June 2019
Medscape UK | Univadis prescription drug monographs & interactions are based on FDB Multilex Content
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