SINEQUAN - Doxepin

Sinequan Used For

Sinequan (Doxepin) is in a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants and is prescribed to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt, loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite, tiredness, sleeping too much, insomnia, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Directions for Sinequan

The standard recommended starting dosage of Sinequan for treatment of depression in adults is 25 mg three times a day, which may be gradually increased as per doctor's advice. However, the daily dose should not exceed 150 mg. For children, the dosage must be determined by the doctor. Older adults can be started at 25 to 50 mg a day and then increased as deemed necessary by the doctor.

How Sinequan works

Patients on Sinequan may experience dizziness or drowsiness and should use caution while driving, operating machinery or performing othr hazardous activities. The medication may also cause sudden dizziness while trying to rise from a sitting or lying position. Alcohol should be strongly avoided by patients taking Sinequan as a combination of the two can lead to extreme drowsiness or dizziness. This medication should not be taken by patients who have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine within the last 14 days. Patients with liver disease, kidney disease, asthma, thyroid disease, diabetes, stomach or intestinal problems, high blood pressure or heart disease, those who have had a heart attack in the last 6 weeks, have an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating, or glaucoma should inform their doctor about these conditions before starting on Sinequan as these these conditions might require special dosage adjustments or monitoring. The active ingredient in Sinequan - Doxepin is known to pass into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. So lactating mothers should avoid taking this medication without proper medical advice. The use of this medication should also not be stopped suddenly as this could lead to extreme nausea, headache and malaise.

Sinequan side effects

Patients on Sinequan may need to be monitored for worsening symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts at the start of therapy or when doses are changed. The risk of such side effects is greater if the patient is 18 years or younger in age and may extend even beyond the treatment starting or dosage change periods. Patients may also need to be monitored for anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, severe restlessness, and mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity) as all of these are symptoms of worsening of depression and/or suicidal thoughts or actions. Patients who are over 60 years of age are more likely to experience side effects of this medication which may include drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, feeling un-coordinated and low blood pressure and may need to be prescribed a lower dose of this medication. As with all other medications, Sinequan may also cause side effects like a fast or irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, high blood pressure (blurred vision, severe headache), difficulty urinating, fever with increased sweating, muscle stiffness, severe muscle weakness, drowsiness or dizziness, dry mouth and eyes, constipation, mild tremor, sweating, mild agitation, weakness, headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, and/or loss of weight or appetite.

Other Sinequan information

Take each dose with a full glass (8 oz) of water. Sinequan can be taken as a single bedtime dose or split into multiple doses during the day, as per doctor's instructions.