Adverse effects
• CNS: Dizziness, headache, nervousness, insomnia, light-headedness, excitement, dream disturbances, drowsiness, decreased concentration, anger, hostility, confusion, depression, tinnitus, blurred vision, numbness, paresthesia, incoordination, tremor, depersonalization, dysphoria, noise intolerance, euphoria, akathisia, fearfulness, loss of interest, disassociative reaction, hallucinations, suicidal ideation, seizures, altered taste and smell, involuntary movements, slowed reaction time
• CV: Nonspecific chest pain, tachycardia or palpitations, syncope, hypotension, hypertension
• GI: Nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, abdominal or gastric distress, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, anorexia, increased appetite, salivation, irritable colon and rectal bleeding
• GU: Urinary frequency, urinary hesitancy, dysuria, increased or decreased libido, menstrual irregularity, spotting
• Respiratory: Hyperventilation, shortness of breath, chest congestion
• Other: Musculoskeletal aches and pains, sweating, clamminess, sore throat, nasal congestion
Interactions
Drug-drug
• Give with caution to patients taking alcohol, other CNS depressants
• Decreased effects with fluoxetine
• Increased serum levels of buspirone if taken with erythromycin, itraconazole; decrease buspirone dose to 2.5 mg and monitor closely if these combinations are used
• Risk of increased haloperidol levels if combined
Nursing considerations
Assessment
• History: Hypersensitivity to buspirone, marked liver or renal impairment, lactation
• Physical: Weight; T; skin color, lesions; mucous membranes, throat color, lesions, orientation, affect, reflexes, vision examination; P, BP; R, adventitious sounds; bowel sounds, normal GI output, liver evaluation; normal urinary output, voiding pattern; liver and kidney function tests, urinalysis, CBC and differential
Interventions
• Provide sugarless lozenges or ice chips if dry mouth or altered taste occur.
• Arrange for analgesic for headache or musculoskeletal aches.
Teaching points
• Take this drug exactly as prescribed.
• Avoid the use of alcohol, sleep-inducing, or OTC drugs; these could cause dangerous effects.
• You may experience these side effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness (avoid driving or operating complex machinery); GI upset (eat frequent small meals); dry mouth (suck ice chips or sugarless candies); dreams, nightmares, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, confusion, excitement (reversible; will stop when the drug is discontinued).
• Report abnormal involuntary movements of facial or neck muscles, motor restlessness; sore or cramped muscles; abnormal posture; yellowing of the skin or eyes.