Generic name: Buspirone
Pregnancy & Lactation: Risk data not available
What is Vanspar?
Buspirone is used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms.
Buspirone is not an anti-psychotic medication and should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor for mental illness.
Buspirone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You should not use buspirone if you are allergic to it.
Do not use buspirone if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
You may need to wait 14 days after stopping buspirone before you can take an MAOI.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney disease; or
- liver disease.
Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with buspirone and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
You should not breastfeed while using buspirone.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
How should I use Vanspar
Use Vanspar (Oral) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may take buspirone with or without food but take it the same way each time.
If you have switched to buspirone from another anxiety medication, you may need to slowly decrease your dose of the other medication rather than stopping suddenly. Some anxiety medications can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them suddenly after long-term use.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
Some buspirone tablets are scored so you can break the tablet into 2 or 3 pieces in order to take a smaller dose. Do not use a buspirone tablet if it has not been broken correctly and the piece is too big or too small. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much of the tablet to take.
Buspirone can cause false positive results with certain medical tests. You may need to stop using the medicine for at least 48 hours before your test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using buspirone.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Vanspar side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- chest pain;
- shortness of breath; or
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.
Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Common side effects may include:
- headache;
- dizziness, feeling light-headed;
- nausea; or
- feeling nervous or excited.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Vanspar?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Drinking alcohol may increase certain side effects of buspirone.
Grapefruit may interact with buspirone and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.