Doxepin: Uses And Side Effects Of This Antidepressant Drug
Antidepressants are currently widely used worldwide, especially to treat depression, but also for other conditions such as insomnia or anxiety. Here We will know doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant
There are different types of antidepressants: MAOIs, tricyclics, serotonin inhibitors, norepinephrine inhibitors, duals, etc. Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant.
Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants are among the first antidepressants that were developed. They are effective, although They have currently been replaced by other antidepressants with fewer side effects In any case, they are still the most effective for certain disorders such as melancholic depression.
Going back to doxepin, Its commercial name is Silenor This medication is used to treat insomnia, that is, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, as well as depression and anxiety, mainly.
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action of doxepin consists of block the reuptake of neurotransmitters by the neuronal membrane
Its operation is based on slowing down brain activity so that sleep can occur, through modifying the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain necessary for mental balance.
Therapeutic indications
The indications for doxepin are mainly psychoneurotic disorders where anxiety and/or depression are predominant symptoms: neurosis with anxiety with or without somatic symptoms, reactive depression, mixed anxious depression
It is also indicated for psychotic depressions including involutional melancholy and the depressive phase of manic-depressive psychosis. In addition, doxepin is also indicated to treat insomnia.
If used for insomnia, doxepin is taken as a tablet to be taken by mouth. As for the dosage, it is generally taken once a day, 30 minutes before going to sleep. It should not be taken within 3 hours after a meal.
After taking it, The person usually feels very sleepy and remains asleep for a while after taking the medication It is recommended not to take doxepin if the person will not go to bed immediately and if he does not have the idea of ​​​​staying asleep for 7 and 8 hours.
When starting treatment, the person will feel better during the first days. If in a week or 10 days it does not improve, or even worsens, it is advisable to call the doctor.
2. Anxiety and depression
In this case, doxepin is taken in capsules or concentrate (liquid) to be taken orally. It can be taken with or without food three times a day. It is recommended to take it at approximately the same time every day.
3. Others
Doxepin too Sometimes used to treat chronic hives without a known cause In addition, the medication can be prescribed for other uses, although the most common are those mentioned: insomnia, anxiety and depression.
Contraindications
Contraindications (when it should not be used) of doxepin are: when there is hypersensitivity to the medication or in elderly people with acute angle glaucoma or with a tendency to urinary retention.
Side effects
As for side effects, doxepin can cause nausea and dizziness, as well as some others:
On the other hand, it is recommended to call your doctor if any unusual problems appear while taking doxepin, or if one or some of the side effects mentioned are severe or do not go away.
It is important to note that during clinical studies of doxepin, a small number of children, adolescents, and young adults (up to age 24) who took antidepressants such as doxepin became suicidal. These translated into thoughts such as harming or committing suicide, planning to do so or attempting to do so.
It is known that children, adolescents and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental disorders, are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts do not know exactly how high this risk ranges and to what extent this phenomenon should be considered if a young child or adolescent should take an antidepressant.
It should be noted that children under 18 years of age should not regularly take doxepin, although in some cases, the doctor may decide that doxepin is the best option.
