How to Use

To lessen stomach upset, take this drug with food, even for a daily bedtime dose, unless your family doctor has told you to take it on an empty stomach.

Take this drug only as directed by your family doctor , to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer time than your family doctor ordered.

Sometimes this drug must be taken for few weeks before you begin to feel better . Your family doctor must check your progress at regular appointments.

To use doxepin oral solution :

• This drug is to be taken by mouth even though it comes in a dropper bottle. The amount you must take must be measured with the dropper provided with your prescription and diluted just before you take each dose. Dilute each dose with about one-half glass - 4 ounces of water, milk, citrus fruit juice, tomato juice, or prune juice. Do not mix this drug with grape juice or carbonated beverages since these may decrease the drug's effectiveness.
• Doxepin oral solution must be mixed immediately before you take it. Do not prepare it ahead of time.

Dosage

The number of capsules or tablets, or the amount of solution or syrup that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking tricyclic antidepressants .

For amitriptyline
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 25 milligrams - mg two to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers At first, 10 mg three times a day and 20 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age 10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 25 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
• For syrup dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 25 mg two to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Teenagers At first, 10 mg three times a day and 20 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age 10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 10 mg three times a day and 20 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults 20 to 30 mg four times a day, injected into a muscle.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For amoxapine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 50 milligrams - mg two to three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children up to 16 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 25 mg two to three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

For clomipramine
• For capsule or tablet dosage forms:
  • For obsessive-compulsive disorders:
    • Adults At first, 25 milligrams - mg once a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 250 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers and children 10 years of age and over At first, 25 mg once a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.
    • Children up to 10 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 20 to 30 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

For desipramine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults 100 to 200 milligrams - mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 mg a day.
    • Teenagers 25 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age 10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Older adults 25 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day.

For doxepin
• For capsule or solution dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 25 milligrams - mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 25 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

For imipramine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults 25 to 50 milligrams - mg three to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Adolescents 25 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age 10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 25 mg at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
  • For bedwetting:
    • Children 25 mg once a day, taken one hour before bedtime. Your family doctor may increase the dose as needed, based on the child's age.
• For capsule dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 75 mg a day taken at bedtime. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults Dose must be determined by your family doctor. It is injected into a muscle. The dose is usually not more than 300 mg a day.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For nortriptyline
• For capsule or solution dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults 25 milligrams - mg three to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day.
    • Teenagers 25 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age 10 to 20 mg a day.
    • Older adults 30 to 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

For protriptyline
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 5 to 10 milligrams - mg three to four times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 60 mg a day.
    • Teenagers At first, 5 mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 5 mg three times a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

For trimipramine
• For capsule or tablet dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults At first, 75 milligrams - mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are hospitalized. Some hospitalized diseaseds may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers At first, 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children up to 12 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Older adults At first, 50 mg a day. Your family doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug and your dosing schedule is:

• One dose a day at bedtime Do not take the missed dose in the morning since it may cause disturbing side effects during waking hours. Instead, check with your family doctor.
• More than one dose a day Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your family doctor.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of this drug is very dangerous in young children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the tablet or capsule form of this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this drug from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.