Product Details

What you need to know before you take Buspirone

Do not take Buspirone: • if you are allergic to buspirone hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) • if you have severe liver or kidney problems • if you have consumed high quantities of alcohol, hypnotics, pain killers or antipsychotic drugs (for mental illness) in the last few days • if you have epilepsy (suffer from fits) Warning and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Buspirone: • if you have been prescribed a benzodiazepine e.g. nitrazepam, temazepam or another common sedative or hypnotic medicine (which may make you feel sleepy). You should be gradually withdrawn from these medicines before taking Buspirone • if you suffer from high pressure in the eye (glaucoma) • if you have a condition which causes your muscles to become weak and tire easily (myasthenia gravis) • if you suffer from addiction to drugs • if you suffer from liver or kidney problems or had them in the past. • if you are suffering from depression and not feeling anxious, buspirone should not be used alone to treat depression. • if you have depression or other conditions that are treated with antidepressants. The use of these medicines together with buspirone can lead to serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see “Other medicines and Buspirone”). Other medicines and Buspirone Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines may increase the side effects of buspirone and may sometimes cause very serious reactions. Do not take any other medicines whilst taking buspirone without first talking to your doctor, especially: • Medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) to treat depression, such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine should not be taken with buspirone • Antipressants such as moclobemide, tranylcypromine, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, doxepine, or trimipramine. These medicines may interact with buspirone and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary rhythmic contractions of muscles, including the muscles that control movement of the eye, agitation, hallucinations, coma, excessive sweating, tremor, exaggeration of reflexes, increased muscle tension, body temperature above 38°C. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms. • Other medicines to treat anxiety or depression to help you sleep e.g. nefazodone • Antibiotics such as erythromycin, rifampicin, linezolid • Anti-fungal medicine such as itraconazole or ketoconazole • Certain medicines to treat for HIV infection such as ritonavir, saquinavir, indinavir. • Medicine to treat anxiety including those containing benzodiazepine e.g. diazepam • Calcium channel blocker medicines used to treat heart conditions e.g. diltiazem, verapamil. • Medicines used to treat depression, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine), St John’s Wort, trazodone and L-tryptophan • Medicines for mental illness such as haloperidol and lithium • Medicines used for migraines called triptans such as sumatriptan • Tramadol (painkiller) • Baclofen (a muscle relaxant) • Digoxin which is used to treat heart conditions, • Medicines used for epilepsy such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital • Cimetidine- used to treat certain conditions caused by too much acid being produced in the stomach • Warfarin- medicine used to prevent blood clots • Antihistamines (used to treat allergic reactions) • Nabilone (used to treat nausea and vomiting) • Lofexidine (use to aid drug withdrawal) Buspirone with food, drink and alcohol Do not take Buspirone with large quantities of grapefruit juice as this may increase the effect of your medicine causing side effects. Do not drink alcohol while taking Buspirone. Buspirone can be taken before, during or after food but make sure you take it the same way each day. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Buspirone should not be given to a pregnant or breast-feeding mother as it is not known if it affects the growth of the unborn or breast-fed baby. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. Driving and using machines Do not drive or operate machinery until you know that Buspirone does not reduce your reaction time by making you sleepy, dizzy or less alert. You are more likely to suffer these side effects at the start of treatment or when your dose is changed. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery. This medicine can affect your ability to drive as it may make you sleepy or dizzy. • Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you. • It is an offence to drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive. • However, you would not be committing an offence if: – The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and – You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber or in the information provided with the medicine – It was not affecting your ability to drive safely. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive whilst taking this medicine. Buspirone contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, such as lactose, contact your doctor before taking this medicine