Doxepin

Posted by judybradford @judybradford, 8 hours ago

Has anyone tried Doxepin? It was recommended to me by a sleep specialist. Is it better than Amitryptalin to lull you into sleep?

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tallbackhip | @tallbackhip | 4 hours ago

Hi,
Doxepin pros and cons, to the best of my knowledge, follow.
FDA approved dosage forms are 3 and 6 mg, and at this dosage doxepin has some slight effect on sleep although I have not been able to find data on long term effect on deep or REM sleep*, and the low dosage impacts histamine (sort of like the antihistamine fexofenadine although fexofenadine is non-sedating).
At these low doses doxepin shouldn't have adverse effects of constipation, confusion, and dry mouth.
*I don't have robust access to psychiatric and pharmacological research journals, but sedative hypnotic medications impact on sleep is usually studied in short term trials (weeks), and good info on deep and REM sleep isn't common.
If you use low dose doxepin for a few weeks it might help, but you might consider cognitive therapy (psychologist), if you can access this, and try to ease off doxepin.
Best wishes.
(Further clarity, I have tried doxepin using 1/2 of a 10mg capsule, perhaps OK for occasional use, sleep quality seemed just OK. I wouldn't recommend amitriptyline for sleep, unless for some unusual reason you have a psychiatrist recommending amitripyline),