BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE vs CONCERTA

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 22, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE and CONCERTA are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE	CONCERTA
Rating	70/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	~$1.27 /30	~$18.94 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE	METHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Impax	Janssen Pharms
Dosage forms	Tablet	Tablet, extended release
Drug class	—	Central Nervous System Stimulant
Boxed warning	None	Boxed warning
Half-life	about 2 to 3 hours	about 2.7 hours
Treats	Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Intellectual Disability	Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Depressive Disorder, Narcolepsy

buspirone hydrochloride concerta

Rating

70/100

Pharmacy pays

~$1.27 /30

~$18.94 /30

Type

Active ingredient

BUSPIRONE HYDROCHLORIDE

METHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Impax

Janssen Pharms

Dosage forms

Tablet

Tablet, extended release

Drug class

—

Central Nervous System Stimulant

Boxed warning

None

Boxed warning

Half-life

about 2 to 3 hours

about 2.7 hours

Treats

Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Intellectual Disability

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Depressive Disorder, Narcolepsy

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Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Buspirone Hydrochloride or Concerta?

Buspirone Hydrochloride and Concerta are tied at 3.5 out of 5 by our independent rating.

Which is cheaper, Buspirone Hydrochloride or Concerta?

Buspirone Hydrochloride costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $1.27 vs $18.94 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Buspirone Hydrochloride and Concerta?

Buspirone Hydrochloride contains Buspirone Hydrochloride, while Concerta contains Methylphenidate Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.