PACIFIC BUSPIRONE
Buspirone Hydrochloride 5mg and 10mg tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about PACIFIC BUSPIRONE. It does
not contain all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using PACIFIC BUSPIRONE against
the benefits expected it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using
this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
What PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is used for and how it works
Your PACIFIC BUSPIRONE tablets contain the active ingredient buspirone
hydrochloride. It belongs to a group of medicines known to treat anxiety
(anti-anxiety).
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is used to manage anxiety disorders without the effects of
depression, sedation or muscle relaxation.
Your doctor may, however, prescribe PACIFIC BUSPIRONE for another reason. Ask
your doctor if you have any questions about why PACIFIC BUSPIRONE has been
prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is addictive.
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is available on prescription from your doctor.
Before you take PACIFIC BUSPIRONE
When you must not take it
Do not take PACIFIC BUSPIRONE if:
- You are allergic to buspirone hydrochloride or any other ingredients
listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing, asthma, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts
of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Before you take it
Tell your doctor if:
- You have had an allergic reaction to any medicine that you have taken
previously to treat your current condition - You have heart, kidney or liver problems
- You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- You have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
- You have a history of seizure disorders.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a
prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor
or pharmacist.
Medicines that may interfere with PACIFIC BUSPIRONE include:
- Other medicines used to treat anxiety or depression including MAO
inhibitors, fluoxetine, diazepam, nefazodone - Erythromycin (used to treat infection caused by bacteria)
- Itraconazole, ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
- Haloperidol
- Alcohol
- Diltiazem, verapamil (used to treat heart problems)
- Rifampicin
- Cimetidine (used to treat ulcers)
- Grapefruit juice
These medicines may be affected by PACIFIC BUSPIRONE or may affect how well
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you
may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
How to take PACIFIC BUSPIRONE properly
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much PACIFIC BUSPIRONE you need to take each
day. It is important that you take PACIFIC BUSPIRONE as directed by your doctor.
Do not take more than the recommended dose.
It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks before any response to PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is
noticeable.
The usual starting dose is 5mg three times a day. After a few days this can
be increased in a stepwise manner to 20 or 30mg daily. The maximum daily dose is
60mg.
A lower dose may be required in the elderly, especially in patients with
kidney or liver disease.
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE is not recommended for use in children as safety has not
yet been established.
Your doctor may tell you to take different doses to these. If so, follow
their instructions.
The dose should be taken at the same time each day and consistently with or
without food. Avoid eating grapefruit.
How long to take it
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE helps to control your condition but does not cure it.
Therefore PACIFIC BUSPIRONE must be taken everyday. Continue taking PACIFIC
BUSPIRONE for as long as your doctor tells you to.
If you forget a dose
If you forget a dose, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take
more than one dose at a time to make up for missed doses.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to
take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask
you pharmacist for some hints.
While you are taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE before
you start any new medicine.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant
while taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
If you are going to have a surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you
are taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are
taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
Do not take PACIFIC BUSPIRONE to treat any other complaints unless your
doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE or lower the dose without first checking
with your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar
to yours.
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE may cause drowsiness in some people. Be careful when
driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until
you are certain that PACIFIC BUSPIRONE does not affect your performance.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious,
most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of
the side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
- Dizziness, headaches
- Nervousness
- Light headedness, nausea
- Excitement
- Sweating and stickiness.
These are the more common side effects of PACIFIC BUSPIRONE.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Itchy skin or hives
- Bruising
- Swelling of the face, mouth, lips, throat, tongue
- Uncontrollable twitching
- Hallucinations, depression
- Clumsiness, seizures
- Memory loss
- Vision problems
- Bladder problems.
These side effects are rare but serious. You may need urgent medical
attention.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
In case of overdose
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre
(0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has
taken any PACIFIC BUSPIRONE by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of
discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the
container of PACIFIC BUSPIRONE with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Storage conditions
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label, or if the
packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your PACIFIC BUSPIRONE tablets in the container until it is time to take
them.
Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light
and moisture.
Do not store PACIFIC BUSPIRONE, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or
near a sink.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking PACIFIC BUSPIRONE or if the tablets
have passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining
medicine.
Product Description
What PACIFIC BUSPIRONE tablets look like
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE 5mg tablets are white, round tablets, marked "BR 5" on one
side with a "G" on the other.
PACIFIC BUSPIRONE 10mg tablets are white, capsule shaped tablets, marked "BR"
type breakline "10" on one side with a "G" on the other.
Ingredients
Each PACIFIC BUSPIRONE tablet contains the active ingredient, buspirone
hydrochloride.
Each PACIFIC BUSPIRONE tablet also contains lactose, microcrystalline
cellulose, sodium starch glycollate, colloidal silicon dioxide and magnesium
stearate.