Buspirone is used for:

The short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. It may be prescribed for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety agent. It is not known exactly how Buspirone works to relieve anxiety. It is believed that it may react with specific chemical receptors in the brain.

Do NOT use Buspirone if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Buspirone
• you are currently taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine), furazolidone, or sodium oxybate

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Buspirone :

Some medical conditions may interact with Buspirone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you have a history of alcoholism or substance abuse, or have severe liver or kidney problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Buspirone. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Rifampin because the effectiveness of Buspirone may be decreased
• Clozapine, diltiazem, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), macrolides and ketolides (eg, erythromycin, azithromycin), trazodone, or verapamil because they may increase the actions and side effects (eg, dizziness, drowsiness, or fatigue) of this medicine (your doctor may need to change your dose of Buspirone )
• Clozapine,MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine), orsodium oxybate because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased
• Furazolidone because it can cause serious, sometimes fatal, high blood pressure

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Buspirone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Buspirone :

Use Buspirone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Buspirone should be taken consistently, always with or always without food.
• Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Buspirone.
• Buspirone is designed to be taken every day to prevent anxiety symptoms. It does not work if it is only taken as needed or only when anxiety symptoms are present.
• If you miss a dose of Buspirone , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Buspirone.

Important safety information:

• Buspirone should not be used within 14 days of an MAO inhibitor. If you are uncertain whether your other medications contain an MAO inhibitor, check with your health care provider.
• Buspirone may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Buspirone. Using Buspirone alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• LAB TESTS, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood count, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Buspirone during pregnancy. It is unknown if Buspirone is excreted in the breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Buspirone.

Possible side effects of Buspirone :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Anger/hostility; blurred vision; confusion; decreased concentration; depression; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; excitement; fatigue; headache; lightheadedness; nausea; nervousness; numbness; sleeplessness; stomach pain; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal muscle movements; difficulty moving.