What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking doxepin?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to doxepin, amoxapine, or loxapine, or if you have:
- untreated narrow-angle glaucoma; or
- severe urination problems.
Do not use doxepin if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Tell your doctor if you have used an "SSRI" antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
- depression, mental illness, or addiction to drugs or alcohol;
- kidney or liver disease;
- glaucoma; or
- urination problems.
Ask your doctor about taking this medicine if you are pregnant. Taking an antidepressant during late pregnancy may cause medical problems in the baby. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not start or stop taking this medicine without your doctor's advice.
This medicine may affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman.
You should not breastfeed while using Silenor.
Silenor is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.