Buspirone dosage, forms, and strengths

Buspirone is a generic prescription anxiolytic (anxiety medication). It is sometimes called BuSpar, but that brand name has been discontinued. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved buspirone to treat adults with anxiety disorders or as a short-term treatment for anxiety. Buspirone’s mechanism of action is poorly understood. However, it does change the balance of the brain’s neurotransmitters in ways similar to other anxiety drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac (fluoxetine) or Lexapro (escitalopram). Healthcare providers may choose buspirone as an initial anxiety treatment because it has fewer common side effects than other anxiolytics, such as drowsiness, lightheadedness, or sexual dysfunction. The use of buspirone is relatively straightforward. People take buspirone tablets two or three times per day with or without food. Buspirone treatment can last for months or years. 

Buspirone forms and strengths

Buspirone is only available as a generic drug in tablet form. Tablets will often be scored (partly cut) to allow each tablet to be divided into two or three daily doses.

• Tablets: 5 milligrams (mg), 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg

Buspirone dosage for adults

Buspirone is only FDA-approved to treat anxiety disorders or as a short-term treatment for anxiety, worry, or tension. Additionally, healthcare providers commonly prescribe it off-label with antidepressants to treat depression.

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Buspirone dosage for anxiety

Healthcare professionals prescribe buspirone for anxiety disorders of all types, primarily generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, buspirone is often preferred for mild or moderate cases of anxiety because of its mild side effects compared with other anti-anxiety drugs like SSRIs, SNRIs, and benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam). In particular, buspirone does not have the same sexual dysfunction side effects as SSRIs, the most widely-used class of anti-anxiety drugs. And it doesn’t cause as much sedation, muscle relaxation, or physical dependence as benzodiazepines. However, benzodiazepines and barbiturates immediately calm people down, making these medications more appropriate for treating the symptoms of severe or acute anxiety attacks. In contrast, buspirone takes two to four weeks to start calming anxiety.

• Standard adult dosage for anxiety: 20–30 mg per day taken in two to three divided doses

• Maximum adult dosage for anxiety: 60 mg per day

Buspirone dosage for depression

Although buspirone is not FDA-approved to treat depression, mental health professionals often prescribe buspirone along with an SSRI or other antidepressant to treat depression. Buspirone helps to improve the symptoms of depression and can offset the sexual dysfunction side effects of SSRIs. 

• Standard adult dosage for depression: 30–60 mg per day taken in two to three divided doses

• Maximum adult dosage for depression: 60 mg per day

Buspirone dosage for children

The FDA has not approved the use of buspirone in children. However, pediatricians and psychiatrists may prescribe buspirone off-label to treat anxiety in children and adolescents. There is no approved pediatric standard or maximum dosage.

• Standard dosage for anxiety in children 6–17 years old: 15–60 mg per day taken in two divided doses

• Maximum dosage for anxiety in children 6–17 years old: 60 mg per day

Buspirone dosage restrictions

Both kidney dysfunction and liver impairment decrease the body’s breakdown and elimination of buspirone. As a result, buspirone levels in people with renal or hepatic impairment are much higher than usual. Although healthcare professionals are likely to prescribe a reduced dose for people with kidney or liver impairment, there are no specified guidelines. Buspirone is discouraged in people with severe kidney or liver impairment.

Buspirone dosage for pets

For anxiety, aggressiveness, phobias, and fearfulness, veterinarians usually prescribe benzodiazepines such as diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, or oxazepam. The calming effect on the pet is much more immediate than buspirone. Veterinarians may prescribe buspirone for mild pet anxieties or fears because it doesn’t sedate the animal like benzodiazepines or cause muscle relaxation. However, buspirone is commonly prescribed to treat house-soiling or spraying cats.

• Standard buspirone dosage for anxiety, phobias, or fears in dogs: 0.5–2 mg/kg, one to three times/day

• Standard buspirone dosage for anxiety, phobias, or fears in cats: 0.5–1 mg/kg, one to three times/day

• Standard buspirone dosage for spraying in cats: 2.5–7.5 mg daily

How to take buspirone

Buspirone tablets are taken by mouth two to three times per day. 

• The prescriber will indicate how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than instructed.

• The prescriber may change the dose during treatment.

• Buspirone can be swallowed with or without food, but it should always be taken the same way each time.

• Buspirone tablets may be scored to be accurately broken into two or three daily doses. This medication comes with an instruction sheet on correctly breaking apart tablets. If it’s missing, ask the pharmacist for a copy. 

• If a dose is missed, take it when remembered. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Never take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking buspirone.

• The medicine may take one to two weeks to improve anxiety symptoms.

• Store buspirone tablets at room temperature, out of reach of children, in a child-resistant, light-resistant container.