When Is It Prescribed?
Adapin (doxepin) is a prescribed to treat:
Doxepin affects chemicals in your brain that may become imbalanced and cause symptoms of depression or anxiety.
This medication may also be prescribed for purposes other than what’s listed above.
When Will My Medication
Start to Work?
It may take four weeks or more before you start to feel better, but do not stop taking the medication unless your doctor tells you it is OK to do so.
Adapin should be slowly discontinued over a period of time. There are withdrawal symptoms associated with this medication.
Are There Any Drug
Interactions?
Do not take doxepin if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the last 14 days.
Always follow your physician's
recommendations on how to take your medication. Also, if you are taking any other prescription medications, herbal remedies, vitamins, and/or
over-the-counter medications, be sure to tell your physician.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Issues
It is not known whether doxepin will harm an unborn baby. Do not take doxepin without first talking to your doctor or therapist if you are pregnant.
Doxepin passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take doxepin without first talking to your doctor or therapist if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Other Important Information and Precautions
Before taking doxepin, tell your doctor if you have:
- Liver or kidney disease
- Asthma
- Thyroid Disease
- Diabetes
- Stomach or intestinal problems
- High blood pressure or heart disease
- Had a heart attack in the last 6 weeks
- An enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating
- Glaucoma
You may not be able to take doxepin, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during therapy, if you have any of the conditions listed above.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side-effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, feeling uncoordinated, and low blood pressure. You may require a lower dose of this medication.
In addition to the information listed above, there may be other important issues or precautions related to this medication. For further information, you can ask your prescribing doctor or therapist.
Side-Effect Information
Only some people will experience side effects--and no one experiences
side-effects in exactly the same way. If you experience any
side-effects, contact your doctor or therapist right away
and continue taking your medication.
The following list may not contain all of the side-effects associated with this medication:
| Most
Common Side-Effects |
drowsiness, dizziness,
insomnia, blurred vision, rash, dry mouth |
| Infrequent
Side-Effects |
photosensitivity,
agitation, diarrhea, high blood pressure, hair loss, increased
or decreased libido, nausea, sweating, swelling, weight
gain or loss, worsening of paranoid psychosis in schizophrenic
patients |
| Rare
side-effects/Risks |
seizures, delirium,
delusions, hallucinations, Tourette syndrome, liver/kidney
toxicity, heart rhythm disturbances, abnormally low white
blood cell and platelet count, tremors, nightmares, high
blood pressure, hypotension |
Side-effects and risks other than those listed above may also occur. Talk to your prescribing doctor or therapist about any potential or existing side-effects that you’re concerned about.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by 4therapy.com is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is made to that effect.
4therapy.com’s medication information is a reference resource designed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge, and judgment of healthcare practitioners in patient care. 4therapy.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information 4therapy.com provides.
