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Low-Dose Doxepin for Insomnia

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Drug Treatment of Sleep Disorders

Part of the book series: Milestones in Drug Therapy ((MDT))

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Abstract

A tricyclic antidepressant first approved in 1969, doxepin has long been available in larger doses (10-, 25-, 50-, 75-, 100-, and 150-mg capsules) to treat depression and anxiety and as a topical preparation (5 % cream) for pruritus, but not in dosages <10 mg. Low-dose doxepin—3 and 6 mg—has demonstrated efficacy for insomnia characterized by frequent or early morning awakenings and an inability to return to sleep. FDA-approved in March 2010, doxepin (3 and 6 mg) is only the second insomnia medication not designated as a controlled substance and thus may be of special value in patients with sleep maintenance insomnia with a history of substance use disorders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Sleep Disorders Center, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Dimitri Markov M.D.

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Sleep Disorders Center, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 211 South Ninth Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Karl Doghramji M.D.

Authors
  1. Dimitri Markov M.D.
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  2. Karl Doghramji M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karl Doghramji M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Pharmaceutical Consultant, Barcelona, Spain

    Antonio Guglietta

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Markov, D., Doghramji, K. (2015). Low-Dose Doxepin for Insomnia. In: Guglietta, A. (eds) Drug Treatment of Sleep Disorders. Milestones in Drug Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11514-6_5

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