Took Double Dose of Buspirone (BuSpar)? What to Do

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to your medications.

Short answer: you're probably fine

A single accidental double dose of buspirone is unlikely to cause serious harm. The FDA prescribing information states that "no deaths have been reported following overdosage with buspirone hydrochloride tablets, USP alone." Skip your next scheduled dose, go back to your normal routine, and watch for any unusual symptoms.

Take a breath. Here's why this isn't an emergency, what to watch for, and when you should call a doctor.

Why a double dose of buspirone is usually not dangerous

Buspirone (brand name BuSpar) is an anti-anxiety medication that works differently from benzodiazepines. It has a safe overdose profile compared to most other anxiety meds. A few reasons why.

The maximum daily dose is 60 mg

Buspirone is typically prescribed at 20 to 30 mg per day, split into two or three doses. The FDA-approved maximum is 60 mg per day. If you're on a lower dose and accidentally doubled one of your daily doses, you may still be within the approved range.

Your body absorbs very little of each dose

Buspirone has an absolute bioavailability of only about 4% due to first-pass metabolism in the liver. Your body only uses a tiny fraction of each pill, so a double dose produces a much smaller increase in blood levels than you'd expect.

It clears your system quickly

Buspirone has a half-life of about 2 to 3 hours. That's shorter than most medications. Even if you feel some side effects from the extra dose, they should fade within a few hours as the drug leaves your bloodstream.

Clinical trials tested doses far higher than yours

In clinical trials, 375 mg per day was given to healthy volunteers. That's more than 6 times the maximum prescribed dose. Symptoms at those levels were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, miosis (small pupils), and stomach discomfort. Deliberate overdoses of 250 to 300 mg caused only drowsiness in about half of individuals.

Buspirone double dose: where yours falls

Here's how your accidental double dose compares to the approved range.

Even if you doubled your largest single dose, you're likely still within the range that doctors prescribe. Clinical trials safely tested 375 mg per day, which is far above any accidental double dose.

What to do after taking two buspirone pills

Here's what to do next.

1. Stay calm. An accidental double dose of buspirone is unlikely to cause serious harm based on its overdose safety profile.
2. Don't try to compensate. Don't induce vomiting unless a medical professional specifically tells you to. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) if you're unsure what to do.
3. Skip your next scheduled dose. Resume your normal schedule after that. MedlinePlus advises: "Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one." If you take buspirone three times a day and you're unsure which dose to skip, call your pharmacist for guidance.
4. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can worsen CNS sedation when combined with buspirone, so skip any drinks for the rest of the day.
5. Avoid driving or operating machinery. Dizziness and drowsiness are the most common effects, so stay somewhere safe until you feel normal.
6. Write down the time and dose. Having a record helps if you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist later.

Symptoms to watch for after a double dose of buspirone

Most people won't feel much different after an accidental double dose. But keep an eye on these, just in case.

Mild symptoms (usually pass on their own)

These are common side effects of buspirone even at normal doses, and may be slightly more noticeable after a double dose:

• Dizziness (the most common side effect, affecting more than 10% of users)
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• Lightheadedness
• Numbness or tingling

These should fade within a few hours, given buspirone's short half-life of 2 to 3 hours. If they don't, contact your doctor.

Serious symptoms (call your doctor)

Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus recommend seeking medical help if you notice:

• Fast or irregular heartbeat. Buspirone can rarely affect heart rhythm.
• Uncontrollable shaking of a body part. This may indicate tremor or a movement-related reaction.
• Rash, hives, or swelling of the face, eyes, mouth, or throat. These may be signs of an allergic reaction.
• Confusion or irritability that feels unusual for you.
• Muscle stiffness or twitching. Combined with fever, these may be early signs of serotonin syndrome, especially if you also take an SSRI (like sertraline or escitalopram), SNRI, or other medications that affect serotonin.

Emergency symptoms (call 911)

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you experience a seizure, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, or high fever with severe muscle rigidity. These would be very unusual from a double dose of buspirone, but they need immediate attention regardless of the cause.

Can buspirone cause seizures?

This question comes up a lot. Seizures from buspirone are rare, but they have been documented.

According to StatPearls, "seizures can occur in rare instances" with buspirone overdose. One published case report documented a seizure approximately 36 hours after a large intentional buspirone overdose. That case involved a much larger amount than an accidental double dose.

In the clinical trials where 375 mg per day was given to healthy volunteers, seizures were not among the reported symptoms. The reported effects at high doses were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and gastric distress.

So: seizures from an accidental double dose of buspirone are very unlikely. But if you do experience one, call 911 immediately.

When to call your doctor or Poison Control

A single accidental double dose usually doesn't need medical attention. But reach out if:

• You took more than one extra dose (for example, you took three pills instead of one).
• You take MAO inhibitors, SSRIs, SNRIs, or other serotonin-affecting medications. These can interact with buspirone and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Many people with anxiety take both buspirone and an SSRI, so this is worth checking.
• You take CYP3A4 inhibitors like ketoconazole, itraconazole, or large amounts of grapefruit juice. These can raise buspirone levels well above normal in your blood.
• You have liver or kidney disease. Your body may process the extra dose much more slowly. One study found that hepatic impairment increased buspirone blood levels (Cmax and AUC) up to 15 times higher than in healthy individuals, and doubled the half-life. Kidney disease can also slow elimination.
• You are elderly, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Older adults may metabolize buspirone more slowly. Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should contact their doctor after any dosing error.
• You consumed alcohol. Alcohol worsens CNS sedation with buspirone.
• You notice any of the serious or emergency symptoms listed above.

Contact numbers to keep handy:

• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7)
• Your pharmacist: They can look up your specific medication list and give tailored advice.
• 911: For emergencies only.

How to prevent accidental double dosing

Now that you know you're okay, here's how to avoid this next time. Buspirone is usually taken two or three times per day, which makes mix-ups more likely than with once-daily medications.

Use a medication reminder app that tracks your doses

Regular phone alarms are easy to dismiss without thinking. A medication reminder app logs whether you actually took each dose, so you always know the answer to "did I already take this?" If you can't remember whether you took your medication, a logged record removes the guesswork.

Pillo is a free Android app with persistent alarms that won't quit until you respond. It tracks every dose you confirm, so the "did I take it?" question has a clear answer every time. That's especially useful for medications like buspirone that you take multiple times a day.

Use a weekly pill organizer

A pill organizer with AM/PM compartments gives you a visual check. If the compartment for this time slot is empty, you already took your dose. No counting, no guessing.

Take your buspirone at the same times every day

Consistency reduces mix-ups. The FDA label recommends taking buspirone consistently with regard to food, so pick specific times and stick with them. If you do miss a dose, check our guide on what to do if you missed a dose of buspirone.

Build a medication routine around an existing habit

Pair each dose with something you already do: breakfast, lunch, getting home from work. This makes forgetting (and accidental doubling) much less likely. Our guide on how to build a medication routine walks through it step by step. You can also review medications you should never skip to understand why consistency matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can a double dose of buspirone cause a seizure?

Seizures from buspirone are extremely rare. In clinical trials, doses as high as 375 mg per day (more than 6 times the maximum prescribed dose) caused only nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. One case report documented a seizure after a large intentional overdose, not from an accidental double dose.

Should I skip my next dose after accidentally doubling up on buspirone?

Yes. Skip your next scheduled dose and resume your regular schedule after that. Don't take extra doses to compensate. Buspirone has a short half-life of 2 to 3 hours, so the extra amount clears your system relatively quickly. If you're unsure about timing, check our guide on what to do if you missed a dose of buspirone.

How long does buspirone stay in your system?

Buspirone has a half-life of about 2 to 3 hours. That means half of it clears your bloodstream roughly every 2 to 3 hours. Most of the drug is out of your system within about 10 to 15 hours (5 half-lives).

Is buspirone dangerous in overdose?

Buspirone has a relatively safe overdose profile. According to the FDA label, "no deaths have been reported following overdosage with buspirone hydrochloride tablets, USP alone." Even deliberate overdoses of 250 to 300 mg resulted only in drowsiness in about half of individuals.

What if I'm not sure whether I already took my buspirone?

If you can't remember, it's safer to skip that dose than to risk doubling up. Check your pill bottle, pill organizer, or medication tracking app. Buspirone needs consistent daily use to work, but missing one dose is safer than accidentally taking two. For more advice on this exact situation, read our guide on what to do when you can't remember if you took your medication.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to your medications. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.