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Brand names :: Sinequan, Triadapin     I took doxepin for over 5 years. While I was on this drug I was very sucidal and spent a great deal of time in and out of psych wards. It is bad for the liver and i have hep C. It is lethal combined with alcohol and I was an alcoholic at the time. It did not relieve my depression. I have no idea why I was on this drug. It was during my initiation process into the world of mental illness, I didn't know what to expect and I was very sick. I took what they gave me. I must say the shrink who started me on this drug was "out to lunch". After my first over-dose she asked me how I did it and when I told her I took beer and doxepin she remarked, "that's lethal" and wrote me another script.     Doxepin is used mainly in the treatment of major depressive episodes in severe depression and manic depression, Anxiety disorder, Insomnia. Doxepin is a psychotropic agent with tricyclic antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. It elavtaes mood, increases physical activity, improves appetite, and restores interest in everyday activities.     It is has a stronger sedative effect than other tricyclics and should used according to instructions. Liver-function studies should be performed periodically. Information for users:: Frequency and timing of doses - 1 - 3 times a day Adult dosage range - 75 - 300 mg daily. Onset of effect - 2 - 6 weeks. Duration of action - 6 weeks. Diet advice - None Drug Group - Tricyclics Overdose danger - High Dependence rating - Low Prescription needed - Yes Storage: - keep in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children. Protect from light. Missed dose: - No cause for concern but take when you remember. If your next dose is in three hours, take a single dose now and forget the next. Stopping the drug: - If only taken for a short period you can stop immediately, but if you have been taking this drug for an extended period of time then you need to taper off according to doctor's instructions. Adverse Effects: Drowsiness - common Sweating - Flushing Dry Mouth - common Dizziness/fainting - common Blurred vision - common Rash - rare Difficulty passing urine - Rare Palpitations - Rare Call your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe. Interactions Sedatives - increase the sedative properties of Doxepin. Such drugs are alcohol (acute intoxication with alcohol, sedatives, analgesics and other psychoactive drugs can be deadly), sleeping drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics and antipsychotics. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's) - Tricyclics should not be given during or within 14 days of treatment of MAOI's. Serious reaction could occur. Antihypertensive drugs - Doxepin may reduce the effectiveness of some of these drugs. Central Nervous System: fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, confusion, nightmares, agitation, increased anxiety, insomnia, seizures (infrequently), delirium, rarely induction of hypomania and schizophrenia (stop medication immediately), extrapyramidal side-effects (rarely), abuse in patients with polytoxikomania (rarely) Anticholinergic: dry mouth, obstipation, even ileus (rarely), difficulties in urinating, sweating, precepitation of glaucoma Antiadrenergic: hypotension, postural collapse (if patient arises too fast from lying/sitting position to standing), arrhythmias (sinus-tachycardia, bradycardia, av-blockade) Allergic/toxic: skin rash, photosensitivity, liver damage of the cholostatic type (rarely), hepatitis (extremely rare), leuko- or thrombopenia (rarely), agranulocytosis (very rarely), hypoplastic anemia (rarely) Others: frequently increased appetite, massive weight gain, rarely nausea, frequently impaired sexual function in men (impotence, ejaculation-difficulties), rarely hypertension, rarely polyneuropathy, in both sexes breast-enlargement and galactorrhea (rarely)     Patients with suicidal thoughts, or those with previous suicidal attempts, should be monitored closely under treatment with Doxepin. Perhaps, the decision is made to hospitalize high risk patients until remission or to prescribe an additional sedating drug like a benzodiazepine or chlorprothixene for 2-4 weeks of initial treatment with Doxepin (until significant remission). At least, the smallest amount of Doxepin should be prescribed at one time to minimize the risk of deliberate overdose. References Medline Plus RxList.com