From the Guidelines
Buspar (buspirone) should be initiated at a dose of 5 mg twice daily, with a maximum dose of 20 mg three times daily, as this regimen has been shown to be effective in managing mild to moderate agitation 1. The dosage of Buspar can be adjusted based on the patient's response and tolerance, with a gradual increase of 5 mg every 2-3 days as needed.
- Key considerations for Buspar dosage include:
- Initial dosage: 5 mg twice daily
- Maximum dosage: 20 mg three times daily
- Gradual increase: 5 mg every 2-3 days as needed and tolerated It is essential to note that Buspar may take 2 to 4 weeks to become effective, and patients should be consistent with their dosage regimen, taking the medication at the same times each day.
- Important side effects and interactions to consider:
- Common side effects: dizziness, headache, nausea, and nervousness
- Potential interaction: grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of the medication As Buspar works differently from benzodiazepines, it is a suitable option for longer-term anxiety management, with a lower risk of habit formation and withdrawal symptoms 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
When used in combination with a potent inducer of CYP3A4 the dosage of buspirone may need adjusting to maintain anxiolytic effect. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Dosage of Buspar (Buspirone)
- The typical dosage of Buspar (buspirone) is 15 mg/day 2
- Daily doses ranging from 15 to 30 mg/day are commonly used for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders 3
- Buspirone can be administered in different regimens, such as 15 mg twice daily (BID) or 10 mg three times daily (TID) 4
- In children and adolescents with anxiety disorder, buspirone was escalated from 5 to 30 mg BID over a 3-week study, and was generally safe and well tolerated at doses up to 30 mg BID in adolescents and adults, and most of the children 5
Factors Affecting Dosage
- Administration with food increased the Cmax and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of buspirone 2-fold 2
- Renal impairment increased the Cmax and AUC of buspirone 2-fold, while hepatic impairment increased the Cmax and AUC 15-fold 2
- The pharmacokinetics of buspirone were not affected by age or gender, but were substantially affected by coadministration with certain drugs, such as verapamil, diltiazem, erythromycin, and itraconazole 2