The Basics
What is Buspirone?
Used to treat anxiety disorders or in the short-term treatment of symptoms of anxiety.
Brand names for Buspirone
Buspar
How Buspirone is classified
Anti-Anxiety Agents, Serotonin Agonists
Buspirone During Pregnancy
Buspirone pregnancy category
Category BNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Buspirone while pregnant
Can you take buspirone while pregnant? As of revision, there was a lack of information about taking buspirone while pregnant.
Taking Buspirone While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Buspirone?
Limited information indicates that maternal doses of buspirone up to 45 mg daily produce low levels in milk. Because no information is available on the long-term use of buspirone during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Maternal / infant drug levels
Limited information indicates that maternal doses of buspirone up to 45 mg daily produce low levels in milk. Because no information is available on the long-term use of buspirone during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Possible effects of Buspirone on milk supply
Buspirone increases serum prolactin.[3][4][5][6] Galactorrhea was reported in a women taking venlafaxine after buspirone was added to her regimen. However, when buspirone was discontinued, galactorrhea persisted.[7] The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Possible alternatives to Buspirone
Lorazepam, Oxazepam.
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. Brent NB, Wisner KL. Fluoxetine and carbamazepine concentrations in a nursing mother/infant pair. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1998;37:41-4. PMID: 9475699
2. Newport DJ, Ritchie JC, Knight BT et al. Venlafaxine in human breast milk and nursing infant plasma: determination of exposure. J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;70:1304-10. PMID: 19607765
3. Bridge MW, Marvin G, Thompson CE et al. Quantifying the 5-HT1a agonist action of buspirone in man. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001;158:224-9. PMID: 11713611
4. Gomez-Gil E, Navines R, Martinez De Osaba MJ et al. Hormonal responses to the 5-HT1a agonist buspirone in remitted endogenous depressive patients after long-term imipramine treatment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010;35:481-9. PMID: 19762159
5. Maskall DD, Zis AP, Lam RW et al. Prolactin response to buspirone challenge in the presence of dopaminergic blockade. Biol Psychiatry. 1995;38:235-9. PMID: 8547445
6. Navines R, Gomez-Gil E, Martin-Santos R et al. Hormonal response to buspirone is not impaired in major depression. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2007;22:389-95. PMID: 17563921
7. Sternbach H. Venlafaxine-induced galactorrhea. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003;23:109-10. PMID: 12544389
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
