Drug interactions
Buspirone + Grapefruit
Severity: Moderate
Buspirone and Grapefruit: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Grapefruit juice raises buspirone plasma concentrations several-fold, which may cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buspirone and Grapefruit can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Grapefruit components inhibit intestinal CYP3A4, reducing the first-pass metabolism of buspirone.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice or to use a lower buspirone dose if intake is regular. Monitor for adverse effects.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Buspirone
- Buspirone + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Linezolid Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Buspirone + Selegiline transdermal Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buspirone with Grapefruit?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buspirone and Grapefruit can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Grapefruit juice raises buspirone plasma concentrations several-fold, which may cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea.
How serious is the interaction between Buspirone and Grapefruit?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice or to use a lower buspirone dose if intake is regular. Monitor for adverse effects.
What other medicines interact with Buspirone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Buspirone with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Linezolid, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Buspirone page.
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