What is a contraindication for administering buspirone?

Buspirone is an anxiolytic medication primarily used to treat anxiety disorders. One significant contraindication for its use is the potential for a hypertensive crisis when taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs can inhibit the breakdown of certain neurotransmitters, leading to elevated levels that may interact dangerously with buspirone, resulting in dangerously high blood pressure. This interaction underscores the importance of evaluating a patient's current medication regimen and any history of MAOI use before prescribing buspirone.

The other options fail to accurately reflect the safety and effectiveness profile of buspirone. While it is not limited solely to patients with a history of depression, patients with anxiety disorders—as opposed to depression—are typically the primary targets for buspirone treatment. Additionally, its safety during pregnancy has not been fully established, thus it cannot be deemed categorically safe. Furthermore, buspirone is indeed effective for treating anxiety, so asserting it is not effective contradicts established use.