Novel therapeutic usage of low-dose doxepin hydrochloride.
Low-dose doxepin hydrochloride (1, 3 and 6 mg) is a tricyclic antidepressant currently being investigated for the treatment of primary insomnia in adult and geriatric patients. Although it has been used at much higher doses to treat depression effectively for a number of decades, it offers a unique potency and selectivity for antagonizing the H1 (histamine) receptor at low doses. This mechanism of action may prove to be advantageous compared with other medications currently approved for the treatment of insomnia. This article reviews previous clinical studies using doxepin for insomnia and the recent clinical trial data, and briefly discusses other potential roles of this compound in clinical practice.
The University of Texas, Southwestern Department of Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. hsinghmd@gmail.com
Haramandeep
H
Singh
Philip M
PM
Becker
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004316:Doxepin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
D004316:Doxepin