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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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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