II. Mechanism
- Azapirone modulates Serotonin transmission
III. Dosing
- Start: 7.5 mg PO bid (or 5 mg PO tid)
- Effective dose: 20 to 30 mg per day
- Maximum: 60 mg per day
IV. Indications
-
Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Chronic Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety in the elderly
- Aggression in developmentally disabled
- Agitated Dementia
- Emotional behavioral problems in brain injury
- Geriatric Depression
- Adjunctive use with SSRI in Major Depression
- Mixed anxiety and depression
- Enhance Major Depression response to SSRI
- Antidepressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction
-
Alcohol Withdrawal
- Reduces anxiety of "needing" a drink
- Obsessive Compulsive depression
- Use Buspar with Prozac
- Decreases Neuroleptic adverse effects
- Reduces Tardive Dyskinesia
- Reduces Akathisia
- Reduces Parkinsonism
V. Advantages compared with Benzodiazepines
- Non-addictive
- Less Sedation
- No associated memory Impairment
- No significant withdrawal syndrome
- Minimal Overdose potential
- No Anticholinergic Toxicity
- Well tolerated by elderly patients
VI. Disadvantages compared with Benzodiazepine
- Slow onset of action (takes 2-4 weeks until effect)
- Not useful in Panic Attacks
- No Sedative effect
- Requires repeat dosing 2-3 times per day
VII. Precautions
- Avoid use in pregnancy and Lactation
- Avoid in hepatic or renal Impairment
VIII. Adverse Effects
IX. Drug Interactions
- MAO inhibitors
- Haloperidol (Haldol)
- Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
- Disulfiram (Antabuse)
-
Erythromycin and Itraconazole suppresses p450
- Results in Buspirone levels 5-13 times normal
X. Protocol to convert from Benzodiazepine to Buspirone
- Convert short-acting Benzodiazepine to long-acting
- Example: Alprazolam to Clonazepam
- Start Buspirone at above doses
- Taper long-acting Benzodiazepine over 60 to 90 days
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Related Studies
Buspirone (on 6/18/2017 at Walmart.com) | ||
Buspirone 10mg | #60 tablets for $4.00 | $0.07 each |
Buspirone 10mg | #180 tablets for $10.00 | $0.06 each |
Buspirone 5mg | #60 tablets for $4.00 | $0.07 each |
Buspirone 5mg | #180 tablets for $10.00 | $0.06 each |
buspirone (on 5/17/2017 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
BUSPIRONE HCL 10 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.06 each |
BUSPIRONE HCL 15 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.08 each |
BUSPIRONE HCL 30 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.42 each |
BUSPIRONE HCL 5 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.04 each |
BUSPIRONE HCL 7.5 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.45 each |