Buspirone Hydrochloride 10mg Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE PATIENT
BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE 10mg TABLETS
(buspirone hydrochloride)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you
start taking this medicine because it contains
important information for you.
■ Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again
■ If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist
■ This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours
i If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Buspirone is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Buspirone
3. How to take Buspirone
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Buspirone
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT BUSPIRONE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Buspirone contains the active ingredient buspirone hydrochloride. Buspirone belongs to a group of medicines called azapirones, used to treat anxiety. These medicines work on the central nervous system, altering levels of chemicals in the brain which can help make you feel anxious. It should only be taken for a short time to relieve anxiety.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE BUSPIRONE
Do not take Buspirone:
■ if you are allergic to buspirone or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6)
■ if you have severe liver or kidney problems
■ if you have epilepsy (suffer from fits)
■ if you have consumed high quantities of alcohol, hypnotics, pain killers or antipsychotic drugs (for mental illness) in the last few days.
Warnings 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 You should be gradually withdrawn from these medicines before taking Buspirone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 liver or kidney problems or had them in the past
■ 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 high pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
■ if you are suffering from depression and are not feeling anxious, buspirone should not be used alone to treat depression.
Other medicines and Buspirone
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, or the following:
■ medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) to treat depression, such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine should not be taken with buspirone
■ other medicines to treat anxiety or depression, or to help you sleep e.g. nefazodone
■ medicine to treat mental illness (antipsychotics) e.g. haloperidol and lithium
■ medicine for stomach ulcers e.g. cimetidine
■ antibiotics such as erythromycin, rifampicin, linezolid
■ anti-fungal medicine such as itraconazole or ketoconazole
■ certain antivirals which are used in treatment of HIV disease
■ St John's wort, a herbal remedy
■ 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), trazodone and L-tryptophan
■ medicines called triptans, which are used for migraines (e.g. 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
■ antihistamines (used to treat allergic reactions)
■ nabilone (used to treat nausea and vomiting)
■ lofexidine (used to aid drug withdrawal)
■ warfarin which is used to prevent blood clots.
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.
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.
3. HOW TO TAKE BUSPIRONE
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Buspirone can be taken before, during or after food, but make sure you take it in the same way each day. These tablets should not be chewed. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water.
Adults (including older people)
The recommended starting dose is 5mg (half of a 10mg tablet; the tablet can be divided into equal doses) two or three times a day. After several weeks your doctor may increase your dose depending on how you respond to the tablets. The recommended daily dose is 15mg to 30mg, divided up throughout the day. The recommended maximum dose is 45mg a day in divided doses.
Buspirone should not be taken for a long time but it may take several weeks before you start to feel better.
Use in children and adolescents
Buspirone tablets are not recommended for use in children or adolescents under the age of 18.
Patients with liver or kidney problems
Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose if you have liver or kidney problems.
If you take more Buspirone than you should
Contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Take the container and any remaining tablets with you. Symptoms of overdose include dizziness, headache, ringing or buzzing in the ears, restlessness, not reacting to light, stomach problems, slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, fits and symptoms such as difficulty in speaking or swallowing, loss of balance control, shuffling walk, stiffness of arms and legs, trembling or shaking of hands or fingers, drowsiness, and feeling or being sick.
(continued overleaf)
POM
If you forget to take Buspirone
Take the next dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Buspirone
Continue with buspirone until your doctor tells you otherwise. If you are to stop buspirone therapy you must follow your doctor's instructions closely. It is especially important as this type of medicine should not be stopped suddenly. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Buspirone tablets and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
Very rare side effects
(may affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 people):
■ high fever, agitation, confusion, trembling and abrupt contractions of muscles; these may be signs of a condition called serotonin syndrome
■ severe mental condition in which the person loses contact with reality and is unable to think and judge clearly (psychosis)
■ fits or seizures
■ restricted vision
■ unusual, uncontrollable movements including trembling and shaking which may affect hands, eyes, neck, body
■ uncontrollable twitching, jerking or writhing movements.
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice signs of an allergic reaction:
itchy skin rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
The following side effects have also been reported;
Very common side effects
(may affect more than 1 in 10 people) dizziness headache drowsiness.
Common side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
■ feeling nervous or excited
■ inability to sleep or sleep disturbance
■ disturbance in attention depression
■ blurred vision confusion anger
■ tingling or pins and needles numbness
■ abnormal coordination, tremor
■ buzzing, hissing, whistling, ringing or other persistent noise in the ears (tinnitus)
■ chest pain
■ fast heart beat, palpitations
■ blocked nose
■ sore throat
■ throat pain
■ being sick (vomiting)
■ feeling sick (nausea)
■ dry mouth diarrhoea constipation
■ stomach pain
■ cold sweats rash
■ muscle, bone or joint pain
■ feeling weak or tired.
Rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) bruising
■ itchy skin hives
■ loss of hair.
Very rare side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
■ seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there (hallucination)
■ change in personality
■ mood swings
■ uncontrollable muscle spasms affecting the eyes, head, neck and body
■ increased tension in muscles and joints fainting
■ loss of memory
■ restless legs, difficulty standing still, lack of coordination affecting balance and manner of walking
■ difficulty passing urine
■ secretion of breast milk in men, or in women who are not breast-feeding
■ a disorder of the central nervous system (symptoms may include tremor, slurred speech, involuntary movements, spasm in muscle of face, shoulder, neck, trunk and limbs, anxiety and distress).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE BUSPIRONE
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label or carton after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store above 25°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Buspirone contains
The active substance is 10mg of buspirone hydrochloride. The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate.
What Buspirone looks like and contents of the pack
Your medicine comes as a white capsule shaped tablet. The tablets are marked 'BR 10' on one side and 'G' on the reverse.
Buspirone is available in a blister pack 30 tablets.
MA holder: Manx Pharma Ltd,
Taylor Group House, Wedgnock Lane, Warwick, CV34 5YA
PL 15833/0078 Procured from within the EU
Manufacturer: Mylan BV Dieselweg 25, 3725 LB Bunschoten, The Netherlands
To request a copy of this leaflet in large print, audio or Braille, please call 01926 482511.
This leaflet was last revised on 25/11/15
WIP URN: 251115-XXXX-PIL-01