FDA approved

Generic for Buspar®Buspirone HCI

Starting at $49/mo

Getting psychiatric care for anxiety has never been more convenient. Consult with a healthcare provider through our platform to determine whether a medication like buspirone could be right for you.

Details

  • Prescribed by a healthcare provider experienced in treating anxiety & depression, if appropriate
  • Unlimited provider messaging
  • Unlimited dosage adjustments

Buspirone is an FDA-approved anxiolytic medication, prescribed to treat anxiety disorders

Buspirone is a nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic medication. It’s unique in that it’s not chemically or pharmacologically related to any existing psychotropic agents—more commonly known as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. While the exact way buspirone works to treat anxiety is not known, it does have measurable impacts on anxiety.

* Only available if prescribed after an online consultation with a healthcare provider.

* Controlled substances such as Xanax and Adderall are not available through our platform.

* This page has been medically reviewed by Sylvia Valadez, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC.

Important Safety Information

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Buspirone HCI Generic for Buspar®

How to get buspirone online through Hers

1. Simple consultation

Complete an online mental health assessment and intake form, then connect with a healthcare provider through our platform.

2. Free delivery

Get buspirone shipped to you for free, if prescribed.

3. Ongoing support

Enjoy secure, ongoing support 100% online—including refills and unlimited dosage adjustments.


What is buspirone?

Buspirone is an anxiolytic, but different from typical benzodiazepine anxiolytics, buspirone’s unique mechanism works gently and gradually to improve your anxiety symptoms. Nice, right?

What makes buspirone different?

Buspirone produces similar effects to anxiolytics in the way it treats anxiety symptoms. However, it doesn’t produce the muscle-relaxing effects associated with most anxiolytics and works gradually and gently to improve your symptoms and mood. It also focuses solely on anxiety.

BUSPIRONE

Buspirone (generic for Buspar®)

How to take buspirone

Buspirone is safe for daily use. Take by mouth twice daily, as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

BUSPIRONE

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Over 75% of Hers customers who checked in with their provider reported improvements in their mental health symptoms.*

* Results vary. Data were self-reported between 11/26/2021 and 08/01/2022 by Hers customers who 1) signed up between 11/04/2021 and 05/04/2022; 2) were prescribed antidepressant medication by a provider after their first consultation on the Hers platform; and 3) had an active subscription for such psychiatric medication through the Hers platform within 90 days after signing up.

A word on side effects

While buspirone is trusted by medical providers, it can come with some side effects.

Common side effects

The most common side effects when taking buspirone are lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, nausea, headache, insomnia, and nervousness.

Rare side effects

A very rare but serious side effect that may occur with buspirone therapy is serotonin syndrome. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include, but are not limited to: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, increased heart rate, changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, tremor, extreme agitation or restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, skin flushing, shivering, confusion, seizures, coma. Seek emergent medical care if you are experiencing any of these symptoms as they could be a sign of a life-threatening condition.

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Frequently asked questions about buspirone

Buspirone (sometimes known by its brand name BuSpar) is mostly employed in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration and effective for short-term anxiety symptom relief specifically, and also the long-term use and management of anxiety disorders. The effects of buspirone are similar to other anti-anxiety medications. Unlike some anxiolytics, it does not have muscle relaxant effects.
Interestingly, there’s some evidence to show that buspirone can be used alongside SSRIs — if employed correctly, it can reduce the sexual side effects sometimes associated with the other medication. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice before beginning any new over-the-counter prescription drugs.
How buspirone works is a bit complicated, but in the simplest explanation, it’s in a class of medications called azapirones, which affect serotonin receptors in the brain.
From the way the NIH explains it, buspirone seems to thread the needle in the world of neurotransmitters: it weakly affects certain dopamine receptors, avoids the receptors affected by benzodiazepines, and targets the 5HT2 and 5HT1 serotonin receptors, both of which seem to make it effective in managing anxiety.
In other words, buspirone tends to affect a lot of things a little bit. Since everyone’s brain chemistry equilibrium is a little different, this medication has significant value — it’s great for people for whom the undesirable effects of other medications are a little too much, or not quite enough.
Buspirone should not be taken by people with hypersensitivity to buspirone hydrochloride, by people taking an MAOI (monoamine oxidase or mao inhibitor)or within 14 days of discontinuing an MAOI, or by people with severe hepatic or renal impairment. You should always talk to your healthcare provider about possible drug interactions when taking buspirone—drugs such as rifampin, diltiazem, erythromycin, itraconazole, trazodone, verapamil, and others may have effects. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their healthcare provider before starting buspirone as risk to the fetus or infant cannot be ruled out. Taking buspirone while breastfeeding may also result in low levels of breast milk. You should also not take buspirone if it causes you to have an allergic reaction.
It is advised to avoid drinking alcohol while taking buspirone tablets. You should also not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine. Additionally, wait to drive a car, operate potentially dangerous machinery, or perform other dangerous activities until you experience how this medication affects you. Avoiding these, storing it at room temperature, and taking your prescribed dose will help the effectiveness of this medication.
Buspirone is not a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Common SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft) etc. It is an anxiolytic, a separate psychotropic agent used to treat symptoms of anxiety.
A missed dose is not uncommon when taking a prescription medication, especially if it’s new to you. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to take your next dose if you miss a dose of buspirone or have a question about the correct use of buspirone.
The side effects of buspirone can vary greatly. Diarrhea, nausea, blurred vision, tinnitus, chest pain, tremors, confusion, dizziness, headaches, and other adverse effects occurred in between 1 percent and 10 percent of patients, depending on the side effect. Seek medical attention if you see evidence of any of these potential side effects.
Weight gain or loss are not common side effects reported by patients taking buspirone.
Withdrawal symptoms from buspirone are not common but may occur if a patient has been taking a high dose or has been taking buspirone for an extended period of time and then stops taking the medication abruptly. Talk to your provider about how to safely taper off of buspirone if desired, to avoid adverse effects.

Learn more about buspirone

Important safety information

Learn more about buspirone

Important safety information

Important Safety Information

The information below includes important safety information about Buspirone, which is the generic version of the brand name drug BuSpar®. Read this information before you begin taking Buspirone. You must notify your healthcare provider if you start or stop taking Buspirone.

Do not take Buspirone if you:

  • Are allergic to Buspirone, or any of the ingredients in Buspirone
  • Have severe liver or kidney problems
  • Have benzodiazepine dependence
  • Take any medicines for Parkinson’s Disease or depression called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), or if you have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days as they may cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure. MAOIs include, but are not limited to:
    • isocarboxazid
    • phenelzine
    • rasagiline
    • selegiline
    • tranylcypromine
  • Take other medication that may cause an increase in serotonin levels, such as
    • linezolid
    • methylene blue
    • tryptophan

Before taking Buspirone, inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all prescription medications you are taking or plan to take, including those to treat Parkinson’s Disease or psychiatric disorders (including antidepressants or amphetamines) to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome or a dangerous increase in blood pressure. Inform your healthcare provider about any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and natural supplements, such as St. John’s Wort, that you are taking or plan to take to help avoid potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions. Be sure to mention to your prescriber if you drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit regularly.

Inform your healthcare provider immediately if you:

  • Become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status; coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes); racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; muscle tightness, as these may be the symptoms of a life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome
  • Develop restlessness or an inability to remain still, involuntary movements, hostility, or depression
  • Have a rash, hives, swelling, or trouble breathing as these may be the symptoms of an allergic reaction
  • Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding

Do not stop daily Buspirone without first talking to your healthcare provider. Abruptly stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms including: vomiting, irritability, dizziness, headaches, sensation of tingling skin, or trouble sleeping.

Until you experience how this medication affects you, do not drive a car, operate potentially dangerous machinery, or perform other dangerous activities.

You should take buspirone consistently, either always with or always without food.

During your treatment with buspirone, avoid drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Buspirone.

The most common side effects in adults treated with Buspirone include:

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Mild congestion
  • A very rare but serious side effect that may occur with buspirone therapy is serotonin syndrome. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include, but are not limited to, a change in mental status, trouble speaking or swallowing, excessive sweating, tremors, involuntary muscle contractions, and increased body temperature. Seek emergent medical care if you are experiencing any of these symptoms as they could be a sign of a life-threatening condition.

If you miss a dose of buspirone, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.

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* Controlled substances, including amphetamines (such as Adderall) or benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Valium) are not available through our platform.

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