I was prescribed Doxepin for sleep problems, but the prescription is for 10mg caplets. All I have read suggest 3mg or 6 mg for insomnia; 150-300mg for anti-drepression. Is 10mg too much to start for trying to help my insomnia? will it have some of the side effects noted for the higher anti-depression dosages?
Is 10mg of Doxepin too high a dose for sleep problems?
Question posted by nosleep1 on 1 Aug 2011
Last updated on 20 February 2025 (3 weeks ago) by msdevilbiss
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6 Answers
msdevilbiss
20 Feb 2025
I was prescribed doxepin for sleep. Label direction is take 1 or 2 10mg pills per night for sleep. I normally take 2 nightly.
Try Ambien it will put you to sleep in about 15 minutes. Also a cold drink called neurosleep. Some walmarts and walgreens have it and all QT stores carries it
dj1purity
5 Jan 2025
6mg is a starting dose for adults while 3mg is a starting dose for elderly adults. With that said, I'm sure if tolerance is an issue, a higher dose may one day be required, but 10mg is definitely *not* considered a starting dose.
Like mirtazapine, the lower doses are more sedating. Did you ask your prescriber why not 6mg?
lilolhipychic48
5 Aug 2016
Hi nosleep1, I have suffered from Insomnia for a decade+,
As you know any medication can cause some kind of side effect(s). However, I just talked to a Pharmist with a degree in Psychology about taking Doxepin 25 mg.for Insomnia, especially since I take a high dose of Lexapro for depression.
He said no more then 25 should be perfectly fine, as it is a drug that's been around a long time, and is known to help Insomnia, for many, and can even help Chronic pain.
I've been taking it for a couple weeks now, I haven't had any bad side effects.
I am so happy with it, I stopped taking Lexapro, and mentally feel better on the low dose of Lexapro! I have noticed it's decreased my Appetite as well,which is good for me because I am overweight.
It's a Serotonin inhibiter, not a dopamine inhibiter, and @ 10 mg. It would not help me.@ all! I tried, felt nothing. I would be very surprised if you had side effects other then being a bit tired at first while you adjusting to it!
I hope this helps you or others,as you asked the question a long while back.
Delila
13 Oct 2013
Hi guys, i just got a notification for this question i understand it is old... but please can you clear something up for me??? When i search the strengths available for Doxepin, i find sites listing 25mg, 50mg and higher? Has this changed so much in the last 2 years??
lilolhipychic48
5 Aug 2016
I would just go to a search engine, and type in Doxepin 3 mg. Or whatever dose you need to research, and try typing the word ( only ) after the mg. You need info on. Hope this helps!
avid448
13 Oct 2013
Try it and see, but likely yes. At the even lower dose of doxepin (ie Silenor at 3 or 6 mg) you are more likely to sleep. If Silenor is too expensive, get your doc to prescribe liquid doxepin, which you can measure out with a TB syringe to 0.3-0.6 ml (which is equal to 3-6 mg). Put it in a few ounces of water, drink and get a good sleep.
LaurieShay
1 Aug 2011
Hey nosleep1,
doxepin doesn't come in a dosage lower than the 10mg pill. So starting at a dose of 10mg is the lowest possible. I don't believe this is too high a starting dose for insomnia.
Sweet dreams,
Laurie
dj1purity
5 Jan 2025
It absolutely comes in lower doses. It comes in emg and 6mg for insomnia. You'd know that if you read the original post and doing a simple Google search for doxepin 3mg 6mg :-)
OP is just wondering why they got a dose higher than the typical insomnia doses of 3 or 6mg. I am prescribed 6mg, as thafis the typical starting dose for adults. 3mg is the typical starting dose for elderly adults.
Now that being said, starting dose may mean the dose increases in time. So 10mg may be a later dose, but it definitely is not a starter dose for insomnia.
C-Squid3
10 Jan 2025
Hey there,
So the confusion here is stemming from generic doxepin and brand name Silenor. Silenor is Doxepin, however the marketing authorization holder (drug patenting company, often also the manufacturer) specifically performed clinical testing of the range of 3mg-6mg for the indication of insomnia. The Silenor market authorization holder Currax pharmaceuticals has the right to the patent of the 3mg - 6mg dosages for insomnia under the brand name Silenor for 20 years before a generic of those dosages can be made. Brand name drugs cost significantly more than generic medications. This is how a pharmaceutical company pays for the R&D, clinical testing, analytical testing, process validation, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, marketing, and regulatory compliance for bringing the specific dosage forms to market.
However, doxepin 10mg is available as generic, so many insurance companies will refuse to pay for the brand name when a generic of the same API is available.
Tl;Dr 10mg doxepin is available as generic and costs less, and is therefore prescribed more. Brand name Silenor is under patent and specifically indicated for insomnia at the 3mg-6mg range based on clinical testing methodology and costs way more.
Since Doxepin has been studied at much higher dosage concentrations, doctors prescribe generic doxepin "off-label" because the data supports 10mg should not cause unacceptably adverse reactions. Same with trazodone, which was also originally developed as an antidepressant (though a different class, SNRI rather that TCA) and is often prescribed off label for insomnia.
It's all about patents and money. 10mg is fine.
Related topics
insomnia, sleep disorders, doxepin, sleep, prescription
Further information
- Doxepin uses and safety info
- Doxepin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Doxepin (detailed)
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