DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious, possibly fatal interactions may occur: arbutamine, cisapride, disopyramide, halofantrine, pimozide, sibutramine.
Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) within 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with this medication. In some cases a serious, possibly fatal drug interaction may occur.
If you have been taking fluoxetine, wait at least 5 weeks after your last dose before starting this medication.
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting doxepin.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anticholinergics (e.g., atropine, belladonna alkaloids, scopolamine, drugs for Parkinson's disease such as benztropine), inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol, salmeterol), certain drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., clonidine, guanadrel, guanethidine, reserpine), digoxin, nasal decongestants (e.g., epinephrine, phenylephrine), levodopa, lithium, stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, epinephrine, methylphenidate), sulfonylurea anti-diabetic medication (e.g., chlorpropamide, tolazamide), thyroid medication, valproic acid, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove doxepin from your body (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates such as phenobarbital, cimetidine, haloperidol, phenothiazines such as thioridazine, St. John's wort, terbinafine, certain drugs for heart rhythm such as flecainide/propafenone/quinidine, certain HIV protease inhibitors such as amprenavir/fosprenavir, certain anti-seizure drugs such as carbamazepine/phenytoin, antidepressants such as amitriptyline/ duloxetine/ fluvoxamine/ paroxetine/ sertraline/ trazodone).
Other drugs besides doxepin that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include amiodarone, dofetilide, erythromycin, procainamide, sotalol, and sparfloxacin, among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal irregular heartbeat. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may decrease the risk of this effect.
Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk when combined with this medication such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), theophylline, or tramadol, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., levetiracetam), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, nefazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., antacids, cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain cimetidine, ingredients that cause drowsiness, or decongestants/stimulants that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE: This medicine may be harmful if swallowed. If overdose or swallowing is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose or swallowing may include: confusion, hallucinations, big/wide pupils, fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, seizures, loss of consciousness.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.
Use this medication only for the condition for which it was prescribed. Tell all your doctors you use this medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not apply more to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature at or below 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised July 2008 Copyright(c) 2008 First DataBank, Inc.