Buspirone (Buspar) Titration Schedule
The recommended titration schedule for buspirone is to start with 5 mg twice daily and gradually increase by 5 mg every 5-7 days as needed, up to a maximum of 60 mg per day (20 mg three times daily). 1
Initial Dosing
- Begin with 5 mg twice daily (10 mg total daily dose) 1
- For elderly or frail patients, consider starting at a lower dose of 2.5 mg twice daily 1
Titration Process
- Increase dose in increments of 5 mg every 5-7 days based on clinical response and tolerability 1
- Evaluate clinical response every 1-2 weeks during initial titration 1
- Full therapeutic effect may take 2-4 weeks to become apparent 1
Maximum Dosing
- Maximum recommended dose is 60 mg/day (typically divided as 20 mg three times daily) 1
- Most patients are successfully managed on daily doses ranging from 15 to 30 mg/day 2
Administration Considerations
- Buspirone can be administered in either twice-daily (BID) or three-times-daily (TID) regimens with similar efficacy and safety profiles 3
- Taking buspirone with food can increase peak plasma concentration and bioavailability approximately 2-fold 4
Special Considerations
- Dosage adjustments may be necessary in patients with hepatic impairment, as the half-life of buspirone can be twice as long compared to healthy individuals 4
- Renal impairment can increase buspirone concentration approximately 2-fold 4
- Drug interactions can significantly affect buspirone levels: