Buspirone (BuSpar) for Anxiety: How It Works, Side Effects, and How It Compares With Benzodiazepines and SSRIs

A medicine that reaches the blood in under an hour and clears in two to three hours, yet needs weeks to tell you whether it works. That gap is why people abandon it in week one. Here is what the FDA label supports, and what it does not.

What to know

• Buspirone is a scheduled medicine, not a rescue pill. It is taken on a regular schedule in divided daily doses, not only when anxiety peaks. Its speed in the bloodstream has nothing to do with how fast it helps.[1]
• Its clearest evidence is for ongoing, GAD-like anxiety. Evidence for panic disorder and social anxiety disorder is not convincing, and it is not established for stopping an acute panic attack.[9]
• It is not a benzodiazepine and not an antidepressant. It does not act at benzodiazepine receptors, does not work through GABA, and does not provide benzodiazepine cross-tolerance.[1]
• It is not a federally controlled substance, and it has not shown the classic dependence pattern of benzodiazepines. That does not make it risk-free.[1,8]
• Benefit takes several weeks, and some people do not improve. Dizziness, nausea, headache, nervousness, and sleep changes can arrive before any benefit does.[1]
• The BuSpar brand is no longer marketed in the United States. Generic tablets and a newer branded capsule are listed, though listing is not the same as your pharmacy stocking it.[2,3,4,5,6]
• Never stop a benzodiazepine because buspirone was started. Buspirone does not block benzodiazepine withdrawal, and stopping one abruptly can cause life-threatening seizures.[1,15]

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The short answer

Buspirone is a prescription anxiety medicine taken on a regular schedule. Its best evidence is for ongoing symptoms that resemble generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD. It is not a benzodiazepine, an antidepressant, or a controlled substance. It also is not an instant calming pill. Benefit may take several weeks, and some people do not improve. Common problems include dizziness, nausea, headache, nervousness, and drowsiness. Important risks include drug interactions, serotonin syndrome, and possible driving impairment. Buspirone usually causes less sedation and does not carry the same dependence and withdrawal risks as benzodiazepines, but it cannot stop benzodiazepine withdrawal. SSRIs and SNRIs have stronger guideline support and broader evidence across anxiety disorders. The right choice depends on the diagnosis, other health conditions, other medicines, past response, side effects, and your goals.[1,9,13]

What is buspirone?

Buspirone is a prescription anti-anxiety medicine taken by mouth. It belongs to a group sometimes called azapirones. It is not a benzodiazepine, barbiturate, antidepressant, sleeping pill, or opioid. Federal schedules do not list it as a controlled substance.[1,8]

The current U.S. label says buspirone is for the “management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.” That broad wording came from an older approval era. It should not be rewritten as a modern FDA approval for every anxiety diagnosis, nor as a GAD-only approval. The label also notes that ordinary tension from everyday stress usually does not need an anxiety medicine.[1]

BuSpar tablets and capsules were discontinued. FDA determined that the strengths it reviewed were not removed for safety or effectiveness reasons. BuSpar itself was not being marketed at this check. Current listings include buspirone tablets in 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 30 mg across manufacturers, though the 2.5 mg and 12.5 mg strengths each have only a single listed product. A separate branded capsule, Bucapsol, is listed in 5, 7.5, 10, and 15 mg. Being listed does not guarantee that a pharmacy stocks it.[2,3,4,5,6]

Buspirone is also easy to confuse with bupropion. They are different drugs. Bupropion, sold under names that include Wellbutrin, is an antidepressant. Similar spelling does not mean similar action or use.

What type of anxiety does it treat?

The clearest buspirone evidence comes from people with long-lasting, broad anxiety whose symptoms most closely resembled GAD. GAD means hard-to-control worry across several parts of life, often with tension, restlessness, poor sleep, or trouble focusing. A current diagnosis also weighs how long symptoms last, how much they interfere with life, and whether a substance or medical problem explains them.

The older buspirone trials used DSM-III descriptions from the 1980s. Those participants do not map perfectly onto people diagnosed under current standards, which matters when applying old results today.[1]

Evidence does not show that buspirone works equally well for every anxiety problem. A 2023 review of the broader azapirone group found benefit for GAD, but not clear benefit for panic disorder or social anxiety disorder. Evidence is also too limited to treat buspirone as an established main treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, specific phobias, or a single acute panic attack.[9]

Anxiety can also come from thyroid disease, heart or breathing problems, caffeine, stimulants, cannabis, alcohol withdrawal, other medicines, or poor sleep. A good assessment looks for those causes. Medication is not automatically needed for a normal, short-lived stress response.

How does buspirone work?

The exact clinical mechanism is unknown. Buspirone is a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor, meaning it turns on part of that signal. It also has moderate affinity for dopamine D2 receptors, and the importance of that is unclear.[1,21]

A dimmer switch is one cautious analogy, and it has limits. Buspirone does not simply “raise serotonin,” and it does not fully explain anxiety.

Buspirone does not meaningfully bind benzodiazepine receptors and does not work through gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, the way benzodiazepines do. GABA is a slowing brain signal. Buspirone lacks the muscle-relaxing and seizure-control actions of benzodiazepines and usually causes less sedation, but it can still impair someone.[1]

The body absorbs buspirone quickly, but the liver changes much of it through an enzyme called CYP3A4. The parent drug’s average half-life is about two to three hours. It has an active metabolite, 1-PP, which the label describes as probably not important in humans. Fast absorption and a short half-life do not make buspirone a rescue medicine. Benefit requires scheduled use.[1]

How well does it work?

Buspirone can reduce ongoing anxiety for some people. Many of the trials are old, short, small, industry-sponsored, and based on older diagnostic definitions. Reviews often pool azapirones as a group, which makes their results indirect for buspirone specifically.

A 2006 Cochrane review included 36 azapirone trials with 5,908 participants, most lasting four to nine weeks. The class beat placebo. On a global outcome measure, the number needed to treat was 4.4, with a wide 95% confidence interval from 2.16 to 15.4. That uncertain class estimate is not a buspirone promise.[10]

A 2023 systematic review included 70 azapirone studies. For GAD, 22 placebo comparisons involving 2,567 participants showed an average 4.91-point greater symptom reduction on the anxiety rating scale used in those trials, with a 95% confidence interval from 3.90 to 5.91 points. In nine studies with 1,346 participants, the response risk ratio was 1.64, with a 95% confidence interval from 1.45 to 1.86. Baseline response rates varied between studies, so this cannot be turned into one reliable everyday estimate of a person’s chances.[9]

That review found slightly lower response and more stopping for side effects with azapirones than with benzodiazepines. Comparisons with serotonin reuptake inhibitors were unclear and very uncertain. Unclear is not the same as equal.[9]

In one direct eight-week trial, 365 nondepressed adults with GAD were included in the efficacy analysis after being randomly assigned to venlafaxine extended-release, buspirone 30 mg per day, or placebo. Buspirone separated from placebo on a global measure of anxiolytic response. Venlafaxine separated on more outcomes. The study was not designed to prove that the two medicines were equivalent or noninferior.[11]

A later analysis of 735 trial participants found smaller benefit and more stopping among people who had recently used benzodiazepines. Their benzodiazepine exposure was not randomized, so withdrawal, expectations, or other differences could explain the pattern. It cannot predict one person’s response.[38]

Available evidence also does not support the folklore that buspirone treats only worry, or only physical symptoms. Track both symptoms and function.

No improvement in the first week does not mean failure. Benefit may take several weeks. Older trials commonly assessed four to nine weeks. Review symptoms, function, sleep, side effects, adherence, and the diagnosis itself.

Long-term evidence is a major gap. The label states that effectiveness beyond three to four weeks was not demonstrated in controlled trials, although 264 people received buspirone for one year without an identified new safety problem. Open exposure like that is not proof of one-year benefit or relapse prevention. Continued use needs periodic review.[1]

How is it taken, and how long does it take?

The labeled adult starting dose is 15 mg each day, given as 7.5 mg twice daily. The label allows increases of 5 mg per day no more often than every two to three days. In trials that allowed dose adjustment, divided doses of 20 to 30 mg per day were commonly used. The labeled maximum is 60 mg per day. These are general label facts, not a personal dose plan. A prescriber adjusts the dose for response, side effects, health conditions, and interactions.[1]

Take it consistently with food or consistently without food. Food changes how much buspirone reaches the blood, so a stable routine makes exposure more predictable. If you miss a dose, MedlinePlus advises taking it when you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose; in that case, skip it. Do not double the next dose.[1,7]

Early side effects may appear before any benefit does. Over several weeks, judge worry, tension, sleep, concentration, and daily function. A rating scale can help, but your own goals matter.

The label requires no routine laboratory test. Monitoring still covers symptoms, side effects, interactions, substance use, pregnancy plans, and organ concerns.

Buspirone itself has not shown the classic withdrawal syndrome or physical dependence pattern of benzodiazepines. A taper is not always medically required for buspirone alone. Even so, stopping can allow anxiety to return, and the best plan depends on dose, duration, other drugs, and the reason for stopping. Do not change it on your own.

If a benzodiazepine is also being used, the rules are different. Buspirone does not provide cross-tolerance and does not block benzodiazepine withdrawal. Stopping a benzodiazepine abruptly, or reducing it quickly, can cause serious withdrawal, including life-threatening seizures. Any reduction requires a clinician-guided plan.[1,15]

What side effects are common?

The clearest label comparison pools 17 controlled anxiety trials lasting four weeks. It included 477 people taking buspirone and 464 taking placebo. Dizziness was reported by 12% on buspirone and 3% on placebo. Other rates were drowsiness, 10% versus 9%; nausea, 8% versus 5%; headache, 6% versus 3%; nervousness, 5% versus 1%; insomnia, 3% versus 3%; lightheadedness, 3% versus less than 1%; and excitement, 2% versus less than 1%. These were reported events, not proof of cause.[1]

About 10% of roughly 2,200 participants in three- to four-week premarketing trials stopped because of a side effect. Nervous-system events accounted for 3.4%, stomach and bowel events 1.2%, miscellaneous events 1.1%, and multiple complaints another 3.4%.[1]

Excitement, restlessness, sleep changes, fatigue, weakness, confusion, and stomach problems can also occur. Some people feel more keyed up before they feel better. New or severe restlessness deserves review, because uncommon movement symptoms, including akathisia, have been reported.[1]

Sexual and weight effects are possible, but the evidence is weak. In uncontrolled premarketing data, lower or higher sex drive and weight gain or loss were called infrequent. Delayed ejaculation and impotence were called rare. Those old frequency categories cannot prove cause and cannot be compared fairly with modern antidepressant trials. It is more accurate to say these effects appear uncommon in the available buspirone data than to say they never happen.[1]

Which symptoms need a call, and which need urgent help?

Discuss at routine follow-up: mild dizziness, nausea, headache, nervousness, sleep change, or drowsiness that is improving and is not creating a safety problem. Keep track of timing, severity, missed doses, and whether the symptom affects work, walking, driving, or sleep.

Call the prescribing clinician promptly: side effects that persist; severe restlessness; unusual movements; faint feelings; fast or irregular heartbeat; blurred vision; a marked change in blood pressure; disabling anxiety; or a new rash without breathing or swelling problems. Also call after starting a concerning new medicine or supplement, or after a large grapefruit exposure.[1,7]

Call 911 for emergency symptoms: trouble breathing; swelling of the face, tongue, mouth, or throat; collapse; a seizure; inability to wake someone; or a severe cluster of symptoms that could be serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a dangerous excess of serotonin activity. Warning signs can include agitation or confusion, fever, heavy sweating, diarrhea, a very fast heartbeat, stiff or jerking muscles, poor coordination, or a seizure. It has been reported with buspirone alone, and especially alongside other serotonin medicines. One symptom on its own often has another cause, but a severe or rapidly worsening cluster needs emergency care.[1]

If you think you took an extra dose, or a child swallowed buspirone, use PoisonHelp.org or call U.S. Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Do not wait for symptoms, and do not make the person vomit. If the person has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be woken, call 911 immediately instead of Poison Help.[20]

Overdose symptoms reported with buspirone include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, very small pupils, and stomach distress. There is no specific antidote. Care is supportive and guided by poison specialists or emergency clinicians.[1]

Important interactions and practical safety tips

MAO inhibitors. Buspirone is contraindicated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, which are used to treat depression. The label requires 14 days between stopping one and starting the other. Do not start buspirone while receiving linezolid or intravenous methylene blue, which can act like MAOIs. These combinations can raise the risk of serotonin syndrome and high blood pressure. A prescriber or pharmacist must check the exact drugs and timing.[1]

Other serotonin medicines. SSRIs, SNRIs, some migraine medicines, lithium, certain opioids, and St. John’s wort can add serotonin effects. Combining buspirone with an SSRI or SNRI is not automatically forbidden, but the evidence differs depending on whether the goal is anxiety, depression augmentation, or sexual side effects. Much of that use is off-label, meaning it is not FDA-approved for that purpose.[1]

CYP3A4 interactions and grapefruit. Strong or moderate blockers of CYP3A4 can raise buspirone levels. Examples include itraconazole, erythromycin, diltiazem, verapamil, ritonavir, and other antifungal, antibiotic, heart, or antiviral medicines. Inducers such as rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital can lower it. Large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise it. This list is not complete. Ask a pharmacist to review prescriptions, over-the-counter products, and supplements.[1]

Alcohol and driving. Small formal studies did not show that buspirone increased alcohol-related impairment, but that is not proof that drinking is harmless, and the label advises avoiding alcohol. Buspirone is generally less sedating than benzodiazepines, yet dizziness or unpredictable impairment can still occur. Do not drive, use machinery, or do work with a fall risk until you know how it affects you.[1]

Laboratory testing. Buspirone can cause a false-positive urine result for metanephrines or catecholamines, tests sometimes used when looking for a rare adrenal tumor. Tell the ordering clinician and the laboratory before the test. The label discusses stopping buspirone before the collection, but never stop it on your own. The ordering clinician manages timing and alternatives.[1]

Who needs extra caution?

Pregnancy or pregnancy planning. Human evidence remains small. A registry enrolled 97 first-trimester exposures and evaluated 68 pregnancies with 72 infants, including twins. No major birth defects were observed. That sample is too small to rule out uncommon risks. Miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and long-term development remain poorly studied. Older label wording is not proof of safety. Decisions should weigh untreated anxiety, past response, timing, alternatives, and preferences.[16,17,19]

Breastfeeding. The buspirone label itself says that giving buspirone to nursing women should be avoided if that is clinically possible, and that how much passes into human milk was not known when the label was written. Newer data are more reassuring but still limited. In a nine-person milk study, the parent drug was below the level the assay could detect, while its metabolite was measurable. The estimated relative infant dose averaged 0.91%, ranging from 0.21% to 2.17%, which is well under the 10% threshold often used as a rough safety marker. That suggests low transfer, but long-term infant outcomes are not established, and LactMed notes that another medicine may be preferred for a newborn or premature infant. Infant age, infant health, milk supply, the benefit to the parent, and the alternatives all matter.[1,18,35]

Children and adolescents. Pediatric anxiety use is not established by the label. Two six-week trials in ages 6 to 17 did not show a significant benefit over placebo. A later review of those abandoned studies found more dropout for side effects with buspirone and more lightheadedness. The trials may have missed a very small effect, but they do not support a confident claim that it works.[1,12]

Adults age 65 and older. The label reports no overall difference in effectiveness or safety among the 605 adults age 65 or older in its database. Even so, dizziness, medication combinations, balance, blood pressure, vision, and fall risk deserve extra attention. “No overall difference” does not mean every older adult responds the same way.[1]

Liver or kidney impairment. Exposure was about 13 times higher in studied liver impairment and about four times higher in studied kidney impairment. The label says buspirone cannot be recommended in severe liver or severe kidney impairment. A clinician needs current organ function and the full medication list before deciding whether use is reasonable.[1]

Substance-use history, or several interacting medicines. Buspirone is not controlled and has not shown benzodiazepine-like dependence in studies. Even so, the label advises careful assessment when there is a history of drug use. People taking several serotonin medicines, CYP3A4 modifiers, sedatives, or long-term benzodiazepines need a careful interaction and transition plan.[1]

Buspirone compared with benzodiazepines and SSRIs or SNRIs

These tables compare broad classes. Individual medicines within each class differ, and a class statement is not a personal recommendation.

Buspirone

Benzodiazepines

SSRIs and SNRIs

What the comparison means

For adult GAD, the 2023 international WFSBP guideline places SSRIs and SNRIs among its strongest-evidence, first-line medication recommendations and places buspirone at its weakest evidence and recommendation level. It also places cognitive behavioral therapy among first-line psychological options. NICE guidance in England and Wales recommends an SSRI when medicine is chosen, and limits benzodiazepines to short-term crisis use. Silence about a drug in another guideline may reflect that guideline’s review scope or licensing situation rather than proof against the drug.[13,14]

German guidance offers buspirone only as a weak option after stronger choices fail or are not tolerated. Older Canadian guidance lists it as second-line. Jurisdiction, date, licensing, and evidence rules explain some of these differences.[36,37]

Individual antidepressant approvals differ. Current labels include GAD in adults and in patients age 7 and older for escitalopram and duloxetine; adult GAD, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder for venlafaxine extended-release; and adult GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, and PTSD for paroxetine. Sertraline has adult approvals for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, and OCD, but not for GAD. These examples do not transfer an indication to the whole class.[29,30,31,32,33]

Current antidepressant boxed warnings concern increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in short-term studies of pediatric and young adult patients, across indications. They do not say that completed suicide increased. Buspirone does not carry this antidepressant warning.[29]

Buspirone may be worth discussing when GAD-like anxiety is the main problem, when avoiding a controlled sedative matters, or when certain antidepressant effects are hard to tolerate. An SSRI or SNRI may make more sense when depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, PTSD, or certain pain conditions also need treatment. A benzodiazepine may have a limited role when rapid relief or another approved action is needed, but that decision must account for driving, falls, breathing risks, substance use, and how long treatment will last.

Combining buspirone with an SSRI or SNRI is different from switching between them. Starting one does not automatically mean stopping the other. Combination use is often off-label, the evidence depends on the condition, and monitoring for serotonin syndrome matters. There is no universal cross-taper.

Where therapy fits

Medication and therapy are not an either-or choice. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches practical ways to notice worry patterns, test predictions, face avoided situations, and change the habits that keep anxiety going. Major guidance supports CBT for GAD, and some people prefer it on its own. Others combine therapy with medication. Sleep, caffeine and stimulant use, alcohol or cannabis, medical causes, exercise, and social stress also deserve review. The useful plan is the one that matches the diagnosis, the severity, what you can access, what you prefer, and what is safe.[13,14]

Bottom line

Buspirone can be a useful scheduled treatment for some people with ongoing anxiety, especially symptoms that resemble GAD. It is not an instant calming medicine, not a direct substitute for a benzodiazepine, and not the right choice for everyone. Its main practical advantages are usually less sedation, no federal controlled status, and no established benzodiazepine-like dependence pattern. Its limits include delayed benefit, dizziness and other side effects, important interactions, weak long-term evidence, and limited evidence for anxiety disorders other than GAD.

A focused conversation should name the anxiety diagnosis, the treatment goal, what therapy and medications have been tried and what happened, other drugs and supplements, alcohol or substance use, pregnancy or breastfeeding plans, organ-function concerns, and what would count as meaningful improvement. It should also set a review point and a plan for urgent symptoms. If a benzodiazepine is involved, the conversation must include a separate, clinician-guided taper plan before any reduction.

Frequently asked questions

Is buspirone the same as BuSpar?

Buspirone is the drug BuSpar contained. BuSpar is no longer marketed in the United States, so current prescriptions usually use another product.[4,7]

Was BuSpar taken off the market because it was unsafe or ineffective?

No. FDA determined that the BuSpar strengths it reviewed were not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. That does not mean the brand is still marketed.[5,6]

Is buspirone the same as bupropion, or Wellbutrin?

No. Buspirone is an anxiolytic. Bupropion is an antidepressant with different uses and risks.

Is buspirone an antidepressant?

No. It is an anti-anxiety medicine. Using it to boost an antidepressant is a separate, off-label use.

Is it a controlled substance, addictive, or habit-forming?

It is not federally controlled and has not shown classic benzodiazepine-like dependence. “Not controlled” does not mean “risk-free.” Misuse, addiction, dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal are different things.[1,8]

Can I take it only when I feel anxious?

Usually no. It is a scheduled medicine, not a reliable one-dose rescue.

Does it work right away, or stop a panic attack?

No. It is not established for stopping an acute panic attack. And no benefit in the first week does not prove it has failed.[9]

Can I take it with an SSRI or SNRI?

Sometimes, with a prescriber. It is not automatically contraindicated, but serotonin syndrome and other interactions need review. Do not cross-taper on your own.[1]

Can it replace Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, or Valium?

Not one for one. Those names refer to alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and diazepam. Their current labels show different roles in anxiety, panic, seizures, muscle spasm, and alcohol withdrawal. Buspirone cannot cover their withdrawal, and it does not provide the same rapid sedative, muscle-relaxing, or seizure-control actions.[25,26,27,28]

Can I stop my benzodiazepine when I start buspirone?

No, not without a specific plan. Buspirone does not provide cross-tolerance to benzodiazepines and does not block withdrawal. Stopping abruptly or reducing quickly can cause serious reactions, including life-threatening seizures. FDA advises an individualized, gradual reduction when a benzodiazepine is reduced.[1,15]

Does buspirone cause sexual side effects or weight gain?

It can. Older uncontrolled data call changes in sex drive and weight infrequent, and some sexual problems rare. The evidence is limited.[1]

Can it make anxiety feel worse at first?

Yes. Nervousness, excitement, insomnia, or restlessness may feel like worse anxiety. Severe restlessness or unusual movements need prompt review.[1]

Can I drink alcohol?

The label advises avoiding it. A small study that found no added impairment does not prove drinking is harmless. Other sedatives and individual response matter.[1]

Why does grapefruit matter?

Large amounts can block CYP3A4 in the gut, raise buspirone levels, and increase side effects. Tell your prescriber about your usual intake.[1]

Can I drive after taking it?

Only once you know you are not impaired. Less sedation than a benzodiazepine does not remove dizziness or drowsiness.[1]

What if I miss a dose?

Take it when you remember, unless the next dose is near. Then skip it. Do not double up.[7]

Do I need to taper off buspirone?

Not always, for buspirone alone. Still plan the change so returning anxiety and other medicines are tracked. Never apply this answer to a benzodiazepine.

How long should I try it before deciding whether it helps?

There is no universal cutoff. Several weeks at a tolerated dose is more informative than a few days. Older trials commonly ran four to eight weeks. Review benefit, function, adherence, and side effects.[9,11]

Does no improvement in the first week mean it has failed?

No. The first week may show whether you tolerate it, but usually cannot settle whether it works.

Can a genetic test predict whether buspirone will work for me?

No FDA-labeled or CPIC-endorsed test reliably predicts buspirone response or dose. That reflects current validated guidance, not proof that genes are irrelevant.[22,23,24]

Does “no routine lab test” mean no monitoring is needed?

No. Symptoms, function, side effects, adherence, interactions, falls, pregnancy plans, and organ concerns all still need review. Testing may fit your particular health situation.

What should I do if I think I took too much?

Use PoisonHelp.org or call 1-800-222-1222 right away for a suspected extra dose or accidental ingestion. Do not make anyone vomit. Call 911 immediately for collapse, seizure, trouble breathing, or inability to wake someone.[20]

Educational disclaimer

This article is for education. It does not diagnose any condition, choose a medication for anyone, or replace the judgment of the clinician who knows your history. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without your prescriber, and never reduce a benzodiazepine on your own. If there is imminent danger, or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. In the United States, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, for any mental-health crisis. For a suspected overdose, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.[20] Every regulatory and numeric claim in this article was verified against primary FDA, label, and journal sources on August 25, 2026. Labels, approvals, and availability change; confirm current status before acting on anything here.

References

1. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Buspirone hydrochloride tablets, USP (Advagen Pharma Ltd) — official labeling record. Set ID 07a789a9-c9e8-4737-a56d-7d5405fe8100. ANDA 075521. Version 5, effective January 7, 2026. Label. Accessed 2026-08-25.
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3. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Bucapsol (buspirone hydrochloride) capsules, Pangea Pharmaceuticals — labeling record. Set ID f101c5f3-d533-474d-a8bf-90d054933d16. ANDA 218628. Version 6, revised 7/2026, effective July 13, 2026. Label. Accessed 2026-08-25. The current version lists 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 mg capsules; earlier versions listed three strengths.
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5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Determination that BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride) tablets, 10 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg, were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Federal Register. October 19, 2010; 75 FR 64228. Federal Register notice. Accessed 2026-08-25.
6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Determination that BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride) capsules were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Federal Register. June 8, 2023. Official PDF. Accessed 2026-08-25.
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17. Freeman MP, Szpunar MJ, Kobylski LA, Harmon H, Viguera AC, Cohen LS. Pregnancy outcomes after first-trimester exposure to buspirone: prospective longitudinal outcomes from the MGH National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2022;25(5):923-928. PMID 35840767. doi:10.1007/s00737-022-01250-8. PubMed. Ninety-seven first-trimester exposures; 68 evaluable, 72 infants including twins; no major malformations observed.
18. National Library of Medicine. Buspirone. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Revised January 15, 2026. NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.
19. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Treatment and management of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum. Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5. Obstet Gynecol. 2023. PMID 37486661. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005202. PubMed.
20. America’s Poison Centers / Health Resources and Services Administration. Poison emergency guidance — when to call the Poison Help line. National number 1-800-222-1222. Poison Help. Accessed 2026-08-25.
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26. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Ativan (lorazepam) tablets — official labeling record. Label. Accessed 2026-08-25.
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If you or someone you know is in crisis

• Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for any life-threatening emergency.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, available 24/7. En español: marque 988 y oprima 2. Veterans: 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
• Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741.
• The Trevor Project (crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people) — call 1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678-678.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) — call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673; free, confidential, 24/7. Online chat at RAINN.org/hotline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788; 24/7, help in 200+ languages. Online chat at TheHotline.org. If your phone or computer may be monitored, calling from a safer device is an option.
• Riverside County — Inland SoCal Crisis Helpline 951-686-HELP (4357), 24/7 (Inland SoCal United Way / 211+, in partnership with RUHS-BH); Community Access, Referral, Evaluation and Support (CARES) Line 800-499-3008, 24/7.
• San Bernardino County — Access Unit (Behavioral Health Helpline) 888-743-1478, 24/7; Mobile Crisis/CCRT 800-398-0018 (24/7, all ages) or text 909-420-0560. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has a dedicated walk-in adolescent psychiatric ER (ages 13–17).
• Children under 13 — call 911 for immediate danger, contact your county's mobile crisis team (they respond to all ages), or go to the nearest pediatric emergency room.
• California Peer-Run Warm Line (non-crisis — someone to talk to) — call or text 1-855-600-WARM (9276); daytime and evening hours, not a 24/7 line.
• NP Fady (non-emergency) — for routine scheduling or questions, call (909) 707-6261. This line is not monitored for emergencies.