Doxepin
- PMID: 31194446
- Bookshelf ID: NBK542306
Doxepin
Excerpt
Doxepin belongs to the class of tricyclic antidepressant medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety, and insomnia, as well as for managing skin pruritus. Doxepin functions by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. This mechanism extends the availability of the neurotransmitters (5-HT and NE) within the synaptic cleft and enhances their neurotransmission by preventing their reuptake into the presynaptic terminal.
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References
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- Owen RT. Selective histamine H(1) antagonism: a novel approach to insomnia using low-dose doxepin. Drugs Today (Barc) 2009 Apr;45(4):261-7. - PubMed
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- Kouwenhoven TA, van de Kerkhof PCM, Kamsteeg M. Use of oral antidepressants in patients with chronic pruritus: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Dec;77(6):1068-1073.e7. - PubMed
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- Eschler DC, Klein PA. An evidence-based review of the efficacy of topical antihistamines in the relief of pruritus. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010 Aug;9(8):992-7. - PubMed
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