Buspirone

Buspirone is used to treat anxiety disorders or in the short-term treatment of symptoms of anxiety. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Buspirone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken two or three times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take buspirone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take buspirone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking buspirone without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Buspirone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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drowsiness</li>
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upset stomach</li>
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vomiting</li>
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constipation</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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headache</li>
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dry mouth</li>
<li>
depression</li>
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excitement</li>
<li>
fatigue</li>
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nervousness</li>
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difficulty sleeping</li>
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lightheadedness</li>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
numbness</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
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skin rash</li>
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itching</li>
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fast or irregular heartbeat</li>
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blurred vision</li>
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unusual movements of the head or neck muscles</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking buspirone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to buspirone or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antihistamines; anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Barbita, Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); dexamethasone (Decadron, others); diazepam (Valium); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin, others); haloperidol (Haldol); ketoconazole (Nizoral); itraconazole (Sporanox); MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)]; muscle relaxants; nefazodone (Serzone); pain medications or narcotics; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); ritonavir (Norvir); sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; trazodone (Desyrel); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan); and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease or a history of alcohol or drug abuse. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking buspirone. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

<ul>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
drowsiness</li>
<li>
blurred vision</li></ul>