Buspirone Evening Dosing Time
Buspirone should be administered in the early evening (before dinner or around 6 PM) rather than at bedtime, as the medication requires consistent twice or three-times daily dosing with meals to maintain therapeutic levels throughout the day. 1
Standard Dosing Schedule
The typical dosing regimen for buspirone is 2-3 times daily, not specifically timed to bedtime:
- Starting dose: 5 mg twice daily (morning and early evening) 1
- Therapeutic range: 15-30 mg/day divided into 2-3 doses 1
- Maximum dose: 60 mg/day, though rarely needed above 30 mg/day 1
Optimal Evening Timing Considerations
The evening dose should be taken consistently, ideally with food, but not necessarily at bedtime for several pharmacokinetic reasons:
- Buspirone has a very short elimination half-life of approximately 2.5 hours, requiring multiple daily doses to maintain therapeutic levels 2, 3
- Food increases buspirone absorption significantly (2-fold increase in peak concentration and overall exposure), so consistent timing with meals is recommended 2
- The drug is rapidly absorbed with peak levels occurring within 1 hour of administration 2
Practical Dosing Algorithm
For a patient requiring twice-daily dosing:
- Morning dose: With breakfast (e.g., 8 AM)
- Evening dose: With dinner or early evening (e.g., 6 PM), not at bedtime 1
For three-times-daily dosing:
- Morning, midday, and early evening doses spaced approximately 6-8 hours apart 1
Why Not at Bedtime?
Unlike sedating anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), buspirone:
- Does not cause sedation or hypnotic effects 3, 4
- Lacks muscle relaxant properties 3
- Does not impair psychomotor function 4
- Is termed "anxioselective" rather than sedating 4
Therefore, there is no therapeutic advantage to bedtime dosing, and the short half-life necessitates earlier evening administration to maintain coverage through the night.
Critical Timing Pitfall
The most common error is attempting once-daily bedtime dosing, which will result in subtherapeutic levels during most of the day due to the 2.5-hour half-life 2. Patients must understand that buspirone requires consistent multiple daily doses for efficacy, with therapeutic effects taking 2-4 weeks to become apparent 1.