Buspirone vs. bupropion: Differences and similarities explained

In this article:

• Key differences
• Conditions treated
• Is buspirone better than bupropion?
• Can you take buspirone and bupropion together?
• Coverage and cost
• Side effects
• Drug interactions and warnings

In this article

• Key differences
• Conditions treated
• Is buspirone better than bupropion?
• Can you take buspirone and bupropion together?
• Coverage and cost
• Side effects
• Drug interactions and warnings

Buspirone and bupropion are generic medications prescribed for the treatment of certain mental health disorders. Some people may wonder if there’s much of a difference between buspirone and bupropion since their names are so similar. They’re distinct medications that belong to different drug classes and work in different ways, but they share a few similarities. This guide will compare and contrast buspirone versus bupropion to help you understand why your healthcare provider may have prescribed one or the other (or both). 

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Key differences

Key differences between buspirone and bupropion include the following:

• FDA-approved indications
• Off-label uses
• Drug classes
• Typical dosing schedules
• Drug warnings
• Common side effects
• Drug interactions

“Bupropion is an antidepressant that boosts dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, helping lift mood and energy for people with depression. Buspirone, on the other hand, is used for anxiety and works by gently stimulating serotonin receptors to calm the nervous system,” says Jamie Waarbroek, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner based in Los Angeles. “They target different brain chemicals, so they’re used for different conditions but can sometimes work together.”

Similarities include typical insurance coverage, average cost, form, treatment length, and typical treatment age.

Compare buspirone vs. bupropion key differences
Difference	Buspirone	Bupropion
Drug class	Anxiolytic	Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI)
Brand/generic status	Generic	Generic
What is the brand name?	BuSpar	Wellbutrin, Forfivo, Aplenzin
What form(s) does the drug come in?	Tablet	Immediate-release tablet, sustained-release tablet, extended-release tablet
What is the standard dosage?	5 to 30 mg twice per day	100 to 150 mg of immediate-release three times per day, 100 to 200 mg of sustained-release twice per day,  or 150 to 450 mg of extended-release once daily
How long is the typical treatment?	Long-term	Six months or longer, depending on the condition being treated
Who typically uses the medication?	People 18 and older	People 18 and older
What are the three most common side effects?	Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea	Headache, dry mouth, nausea
When does it usually reach full effect?	4 to 6 weeks	6 to 8 weeks

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Conditions treated

Bupropion and buspirone are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat different conditions:

• Buspirone is approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
• Bupropion is approved to treat depression (including major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder), to help people quit smoking, and to promote weight loss and weight management when combined with naltrexone in Contrave, a drug used alongside a low-calorie diet and physical activity.

Both medications also have off-label uses, and this is where they start to overlap. Buspirone can help treat depression, especially when it’s combined with certain antidepressants, and bupropion may lower anxiety in people with co-occurring depression. Both can also help address sexual dysfunction caused by a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Ritu Goel, MD, a Los Angeles-based board-certified child, adolescent, and adult integrative psychiatrist, says, “Buspirone is used off-label sometimes to help with irritability in certain groups, such as patients with autism spectrum disorder, by targeting underlying anxiety.” There’s also some evidence that buspirone helps with sleep when insomnia is linked to anxiety.

Researchers have also found that buspirone may help improve sleep apnea and blood oxygen levels in people with heart failure and treat gastrointestinal conditions like slow stomach emptying and chronic feelings of nausea, bloating, and fullness. 

As for bupropion, its psychotropic effects may make it useful in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder. 

More research is needed for some off-label uses. Your healthcare provider will weigh the pros and cons of trying buspirone or bupropion before prescribing it as an off-label treatment. 

Compare buspirone vs. bupropion conditions treated
Condition	Buspirone	Bupropion
Generalized anxiety disorder	Yes	Off-label
Major depressive disorder	Off-label, usually in combination with other medications	Yes
Seasonal affective disorder	No	Yes
Smoking cessation	No	Yes
Weight loss and weight management	No	Yes, in combination with naltrexone (Contrave)
ADHD	No	Off label
Bipolar disorder	No	Off label
Sexual dysfunction caused by SSRI antidepressants	Off label	Off label
Anxiety-related insomnia	Off label	No
Heart failure	Off label	No
Gastrointestinal conditions	Off label	No

Is buspirone better than bupropion?

It’s difficult to say whether buspirone is better than bupropion. People with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression respond differently to medications, so what works for one person may not work for another. 

That said, here’s what we know about the general efficacy of buspirone versus bupropion for the three conditions they both treat. 

Depression

Bupropion is well-established as an effective first-line treatment for depression, and studies suggest it works in over 50% of patients. It may be even more effective when combined with other antidepressants.

Buspirone hasn’t been extensively studied for depression, but a small 1991 study reported that 70% of those taking buspirone experienced moderate or marked improvement in their depression symptoms compared to 35% of those taking a placebo. There’s also some evidence that combining buspirone with a first-line antidepressant improves treatment outcomes. 

Anxiety

Bupropion has been shown to increase anxiety in some people while decreasing it in others. In clinical trials, 5%–6% of participants reported anxiety while taking bupropion compared to 3% in the placebo group. Studies suggest bupropion is an effective treatment for anxiety that occurs alongside depression, but research remains limited.

On the other hand, buspirone is an FDA-approved anxiety treatment. Studies show it’s more effective than a placebo at reducing anxiety symptoms, even when people experience co-occurring depression and take depression medication.

Sexual dysfunction due to SSRIs

SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that may cause unwelcome sexual side effects, including decreased libido and an inability to orgasm. 

When prescribed with an SSRI, buspirone helps counteract sexual side effects in some people while also potentially improving their depression symptoms.   

Bupropion tackles the issue in a different way. Healthcare providers often replace the SSRI with bupropion because it treats depression without causing sexual side effects. Combining bupropion with an SSRI may or may not improve SSRI-related sexual dysfunction.

Can you take buspirone and bupropion together?

Studies show more than 40% of people with depression also experience an anxiety disorder. Buspirone and bupropion can be prescribed together, but there are many other possible combinations of antianxiety and antidepressant medications. The right solution for you may involve different medications.

“Since bupropion is an activating antidepressant that can sometimes make underlying anxiety worse, adding buspirone can help,” Dr. Goel says. Waarbroek agrees: “I might prescribe bupropion and buspirone together if someone has both depression and anxiety, as they can complement each other well.”

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Insurance coverage and cost 

Because generic buspirone and bupropion are widely available, they tend to be covered by insurance, including Medicare Part D. The cost of these medications varies based on your insurance plan and pharmacy. 

Here’s what you can expect to pay without insurance or discounts, on average:

• Buspirone: $46 for 60, 5 mg tablets
• Bupropion: $40 for 30, 75 mg tablets

A free SingleCare prescription discount card can significantly lower the price of these medications:

• Buspirone: $5 for 60, 5 mg tablets with a SingleCare coupon
• Bupropion: $9 for 30, 75 mg tablets with a SingleCare coupon

Compare buspirone vs. bupropion cost and coverage
Coverage	Buspirone	Bupropion
Typically covered by insurance?	Yes	Yes
Typically covered by Medicare Part D?	Yes	Yes
SingleCare cost	$5 per 60, 5 mg tablets of generic buspirone at Kroger	$9 per 30, 75 mg tablets of generic bupropion at Kroger

The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Dec. 9, 2025. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon pages for updated prices near you.

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Side effects

Although head-to-head trials have not examined this matter, you may be more likely to experience side effects, including serious side effects, while taking bupropion than while taking buspirone. Both medications tend to cause dizziness, nausea, and headaches.

In clinical trials, five side effects occurred in at least 5% of people taking buspirone. The most common buspirone side effect is dizziness, occurring in about 1 in every 8 people. Other common side effects of buspirone include drowsiness, nausea, nervousness, and headache. 

In contrast, 13 side effects occurred in at least 5% of people taking 300 mg of bupropion. The most common bupropion side effect, headache, occurs in 1 out of every 4 people. 

Other top side effects of bupropion include dry mouth, nausea, and insomnia. Taking more than 300 mg of bupropion per day increases the risk of some side effects, like abdominal pain, heart palpitations, pharyngitis (throat inflammation), myalgia (muscle pain), and frequent urination. 

This isn’t a complete list of possible side effects for either medication. Combining certain medications with buspirone or bupropion can increase your risk of side effects. Talk to a healthcare provider for more information.

Compare buspirone vs. bupropion side effects
	Buspirone	Bupropion
Side effect	Frequency	Frequency
Dizziness	12%	7%
Drowsiness	10%	N/A
Nausea	8%	13%
Headache	6%	26%
Nervousness	5%	N/A
Dry mouth	N/A	17%
Insomnia	N/A	11%
Constipation	N/A	10%
Infection	N/A	8%
Tinnitus	N/A	6%
Sweating	N/A	6%
Tremor	N/A	6%
Anorexia	N/A	5%
Rash	N/A	5%
Anxiety	N/A	5%

Source: FDA (buspirone), DailyMed (bupropion)

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Drug interactions

Buspirone and bupropion share some drug interactions. Neither is safe to take with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) due to an increased risk of high blood pressure and serotonin syndrome. Combining either medication with an antibiotic called linezolid also increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Taking these medications with calcium channel blockers like Cardizem (diltiazem) can increase the risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider may adjust the dose or frequently check in to see how you’re feeling.

Certain antibiotics and antifungals can interact with buspirone but are safe to take with bupropion. On the other hand, some antiplatelet and heart medications interact with bupropion but not buspirone. 

Here’s an extended (but not complete) look at different drugs that interact with buspirone and/or bupropion. Tell your healthcare provider about every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you take, as well as any herbs and supplements, to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions. 

Compare buspirone vs. bupropion drug interactions
Drug class	Examples	Buspirone	Bupropion
MAOIs	Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine),  Marplan (isocarboxazid)	Not safe	Not safe
Antibiotic	Zyvox (linezolid)	Not safe	Not safe
MAOI, diagnostic dye, antidote	Methylene blue	Not safe	Not safe
Calcium channel blocker (CCB)	Cardizem (diltiazem) Calan (verapamil)	Consider dose adjustment	Use with caution
Antidepressant	Serzone (nefazodone)	Consider dose adjustment	Consider avoidance; increased risk of seizures
Antibiotic	Romycin (erythromycin)	Consider dose adjustment	Safe
Triazole antifungal	Sporanox (itraconazole)	Consider dose adjustment	Safe
CYP3A4 inhibitors	Ketoconazole  Ritonavir	Consider dose adjustment	Use with caution
CYP3A4 inducers	Dexamethasone  Phenobarbitol	Consider dose adjustment	Consider avoidance; increased risk of seizures
CYP2B6 inhibitors	Ticlopidine, Clopidogrel	Safe	Consider dose adjustment
CYP2B6 inducers	Efavirenz	Consider dose adjustment	Consider dose adjustment
Dopamine agonists	Levodopa Amantadine	Use with caution	Use with caution
Digitalis glycoside	Digoxin	Safe	Use with caution

Buspirone vs. bupropion: Drug warnings

Bupropion comes with a boxed warning (the strongest warning from the FDA) because it can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, especially in people younger than 25. It can also cause seizures, high blood pressure (hypertension), angle-closure glaucoma, and various neuropsychiatric reactions, including mania, delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia. 

Serious side effects that may occur with buspirone include allergic reactions and serotonin syndrome. Both can be potentially fatal. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a serious allergic reaction that causes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice irritability, confusion, rapid heartbeat, twitching, stiffness, sweating, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea, as these are signs of serotonin toxicity.

Bottom line

Buspirone and bupropion can both be helpful in treating common mental health conditions; buspirone excels as an anxiety treatment, and bupropion is primarily an antidepressant. Bupropion has a longer list of potential side effects and may be more likely to cause serious side effects like suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and current medications to determine if buspirone or bupropion is right for you.