Buspar vs. Zoloft

Are Buspar and Zoloft the Same Thing?

Buspar (buspirone) and Zoloft (sertraline) are both drugs used to treat anxiety. The difference is that Zoloft is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressant prescribed for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

What Are Possible Side Effects of Buspar?

Common side effects of Buspar include:

What Are Possible Side Effects of Zoloft?

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

  • sleepiness
  • drowsiness
  • tired feeling
  • nervousness
  • sleep problems (insomnia)
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • skin rash
  • headache
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • upset stomach
  • stomach pain
  • dry mouth
  • changes in appetite
  • abnormal ejaculation
  • impotence
  • decreased sex drive
  • difficulty having an orgasm
  • dry mouth, and
  • weight loss.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Zoloft including:

  • very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
  • agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;
  • nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination;
  • trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

What is Buspar?

Buspar (buspirone) is an antianxiety agent prescribed for the treatment of anxiety.

What is Zoloft?

Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressant prescribed for the treatment of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

What Drugs Interact With Buspar?

It is recommended that buspirone hydrochloride tablets not be used concomitantly with MAO inhibitors

What Drugs Interact With Zoloft?

Who should not take Zoloft?

Do not take Zoloft if you:

  • take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
  • have taken an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Zoloft unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • take any other medicines that contain sertraline (such as sertraline HCl or sertraline hydrochloride).
  • take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
  • are allergic to sertraline or any of the ingredients in Zoloft. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Zoloft.
  • take Antabuse® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of Zoloft) due to the alcohol content.

How Should Buspar Be Taken?

Buspar is normally taken short-term for 3 to 4 weeks. Zoloft is intended for long-term use, and may start working in as short as 2 weeks, but the full effect of the drug may not be seen for up to 3 months.

Response to buspirone varies among individuals. Your physician may find it necessary to adjust your dosage to obtain the proper response.

Each tablet is scored and can be broken accurately.

To break a tablet accurately and easily, hold the tablet between your thumbs and index fingers close to the appropriate tablet score (groove). Then, with the tablet score facing you, apply pressure and snap the tablet segments apart (segments breaking incorrectly should not be used).

How Should Zoloft Be Taken?

Take Zoloft exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Zoloft until it is the right dose for you.

Zoloft Tablets may be taken with or without food.

Zoloft Oral Solution may look cloudy or hazy after mixing, this is normal.

Zoloft Oral Solution must be diluted before use:

Do not mix Zoloft until you are ready to take it.

When diluting Zoloft Oral Solution, use only water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice.

The oral dropper contains latex. If you are sensitive or allergic to latex, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine.

If you miss a dose of Zoloft, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.Do not take two doses of Zoloft at the same

time.

If you take too much Zoloft, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Disclaimer

All drug information provided on RxList.com is sourced directly from drug monographs published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Any drug information published on RxList.com regarding general drug information, drug side effects, drug usage, dosage, and more are sourced from the original drug documentation found in its FDA drug monograph.

Drug information found in the drug comparisons published on RxList.com is primarily sourced from the FDA drug information. The drug comparison information found in this article does not contain any data from clinical trials with human participants or animals performed by any of the drug manufacturers comparing the drugs.

The drug comparisons information provided does not cover every potential use, warning, drug interaction, side effect, or adverse or allergic reaction. RxList.com assumes no responsibility for any healthcare administered to a person based on the information found on this site.

As drug information can and will change at any time, RxList.com makes every effort to update its drug information. Due to the time-sensitive nature of drug information, RxList.com makes no guarantees that the information provided is the most current.

Any missing drug warnings or information does not in any way guarantee the safety, effectiveness, or the lack of adverse effects of any drug. The drug information provided is intended for reference only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.

If you have specific questions regarding a drug’s safety, side effects, usage, warnings, etc., you should contact your doctor or pharmacist, or refer to the individual drug monograph details found on the FDA.gov or RxList.com websites for more information.

You may also report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA by visiting the FDA MedWatch website or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

RxList. Buspar Prescribing Information.
https://www.rxlist.com/buspar-drug.htm
Zoloft Prescribing Information.
http://www.zoloft.com/

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors