openFDA text is shown for search and cross-checking; DailyMed SPL is canonical.
Warnings sections page 1 of 1 · 2 matching rows.
warnings and cautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors : Monitor for clinical worsening and suicide thoughts and behaviors. Consider changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing doxepin hydrochloride capsules, in patients who are experiencing emergent suicidal thoughts or behaviors. ( 5.1 ) Serotonin Syndrome : Risk increases with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs. Monitor all patients taking doxepin hydrochloride capsules for the emergence of serotonin syndrome. Discontinue doxepin hydrochloride capsules and any concomitant serotonergic agents immediately and initiate supportive treatment if serotonin syndrome occurs. ( 5.2 , 7 ) Angle-Closure Glaucoma : Avoid use of doxepin hydrochloride capsules in patients with untreated anatomically narrow angles. ( 5.3 ) Sedation and Driving Risks : Because doxepin hydrochloride capsules can cause sedation, warn patients against driving a car or operating dangerous machinery while taking doxepin hydrochloride capsules. ( 5.4 ) Activation of Mania or Hypomania : Prior to initiating antidepressant therapy, screen for bipolar disorder. Doxepin hydrochloride capsules are not approved for use in treating bipolar depression. ( 5.5 ) 5.1 Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Adolescents and Young Adults In pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs including tricyclic antidepressants and other antidepressant classes that included approximately 77,000 adult patients and 4,500 pediatric patients (doxepin hydrochloride capsules are not approved for use in pediatric patients), the incidence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in antidepressant-treated patients age 24 years and younger was greater than in placebo-treated patients. There was considerable variation in risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among drugs, but there was an increased risk identified in young patients for most drugs studied. The drug-placebo differences in the number of cases of suicidal thoughts and behaviors per 1,000 patients treated are provided in Table 1. Table 1: Risk Differences of the Number of Patients of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in the Pooled Placebo-Controlled Trials of Antidepressants in Pediatric and Adult Patients Age Range Drug-Placebo Difference in Number of Patients of Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors per 1,000 Patients Treated Increases Compared to Placebo < 18 years old 14 additional patients 18-24 years old 5 additional patients Decreases Compared to Placebo 25-64 years old 1 fewer patient ≥ 65 years old 6 fewer patients It is unknown whether the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adults extends to longer-term use, i.e., beyond four months. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance trials in adults with MDD that antidepressants delay the recurrence of depression. Monitor all doxepin hydrochloride capsules-treated patients for clinical worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially during the initial few months of doxepin hydrochloride capsules therapy, and at times of dosage changes. Counsel family members or caregivers of patients to monitor for changes in behavior and to alert the health care provider. Consider changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing doxepin hydrochloride capsules, in patients who are experiencing emergent suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 5.2 Serotonin Syndrome Tricyclic antidepressants, including doxepin hydrochloride capsules, can precipitate serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. This risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (e.g., other tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, triptans, tetracyclic antidepressants, opioids), lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John’s Wort) and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (e.g., MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders and others, such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue) [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., confusion, agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, and flushing), neuromuscular abnormalities (e.g., tremor, rigidity, clonus, and hyperreflexia), seizures and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Patients should be monitored for the emergence of serotonin syndrome. The concomitant use of doxepin hydrochloride capsules with MAOIs is contraindicated. The use of doxepin hydrochloride capsules within 14 days of discontinuing treatment with an MAOI intended to treat psychiatric disorders is contraindicated. Starting doxepin hydrochloride capsules in a patient who is being treated with an MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is contraindicated. No reports involved the administration of methylene blue by other routes (such as oral or local tissue injection). If it is necessary to initiate treatment with a MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue in a patient taking doxepin hydrochloride capsules, discontinue doxepin hydrochloride capsules before initiating treatment with the MAOI [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Drug Interactions (7) ] . Monitor all patients taking doxepin hydrochloride capsules for the emergence of serotonin syndrome. Discontinue doxepin hydrochloride capsules treatment and any concomitant serotonergic agents immediately if the above symptoms occur, and initiate supportive symptomatic treatment. If concomitant use of doxepin hydrochloride capsules with other serotonergic drugs (besides MAOIs which are contraindicated) is clinically warranted, inform patients of the increased risk for serotonin syndrome and monitor for symptoms. 5.3 Angle-Closure Glaucoma The pupillary dilation that occurs following use of many antidepressant drugs including doxepin hydrochloride capsules may trigger an angle closure glaucoma attack in a patient with anatomically narrow angles who does not have a patent iridectomy. Patients may wish to be examined to determine whether they are susceptible to angle closure, and have a prophylactic procedure (e.g., iridectomy), if they are susceptible. Doxepin hydrochloride capsules are contraindicated in patients with glaucoma. Avoid use of doxepin hydrochloride capsules in patients with untreated anatomically narrow angles. 5.4 Sedation and Driving Risks Because doxepin hydrochloride capsules can cause sedation, warn patients of the risk of sedation and caution patients against driving a car or operating dangerous machinery while taking doxepin hydrochloride capsules. Also caution patients that their response to alcohol may be potentiated. Sedating drugs, including doxepin hydrochloride capsules, may cause oversedation in geriatric patients. 5.5 Activation of Mania or Hypomania In patients with bipolar disorder, treating MDD with doxepin hydrochloride capsules may precipitate a mixed/manic episode. Prior to initiating treatment with doxepin hydrochloride capsules, screen patients for any personal or family history of bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania. doxepin hydrochloride capsules are not approved for use in treating bipolar depression. 5.6 Risk of Seizures Caution should be used when doxepin hydrochloride capsules are given to patients with a history of seizure disorder, because this drug may lower the seizure threshold. Patients with a history of seizures should be monitored during doxepin hydrochloride capsules use to identify recurrence of seizures or increase in frequency of seizures. 5.7 Psychosis In patients with schizophrenia, treatment with doxepin hydrochloride capsules for MDD may activate psychosis. If this occurs, stop doxepin hydrochloride capsules and consider alternative treatment options.