What is the brand name for Doxepin?
The brand name for Doxepin is Silenor.
PTCE Top 200 · #166
Doxepin
Silenor
Doxepin is the generic name for the brand-name drug Silenor. It is a tricyclic antidepressant (tca) used to treat insomnia (sleep maintenance). On the PTCE Top 200 drug list, Doxepin ranks #166 and is one of the most frequently tested cns/psych medications — commonly quizzed on its brand–generic pair, drug class, and key side effects.
| Generic name | Doxepin |
|---|---|
| Brand name(s) | Silenor |
| Drug class | Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) |
| Class group | CNS/Psych |
| Common use | insomnia (sleep maintenance) |
| DEA schedule | Unscheduled |
| Availability | Prescription only (Rx) |
What is Doxepin used for?
Treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance (low-dose doxepin products).
What drug class is Doxepin?
Doxepin is a Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) in the CNS/Psych group. Knowing the class is the fastest way to predict its uses, side effects, and the brand↔generic pairs the PTCE tests.
Common side effects of Doxepin
- arrow_rightDrowsiness/somnolence
- arrow_rightSedation
- arrow_rightDry mouth
- arrow_rightDizziness
- arrow_rightNausea
- arrow_rightUpper respiratory infection symptoms
Major interactions
- arrow_rightMAO inhibitors (contraindicated)
- arrow_rightCNS depressants (alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, sedating antihistamines) increase sedation/impairment
- arrow_rightCimetidine and other CYP inhibitors can increase doxepin levels
- arrow_rightOther serotonergic drugs (SSRIs/SNRIs, triptans, linezolid) may increase serotonin syndrome risk
- arrow_rightDrugs with anticholinergic effects may increase anticholinergic adverse effects
Is Doxepin a controlled substance?
No. Doxepin is not a federally controlled substance (it is unscheduled by the DEA).
How to remember Doxepin (PTCE mnemonic)
SIL-enor SILences night-waking — low-dose DOXEpin (3-6mg) = pure H1 blocker for sleep maintenance. At higher doses = TCA with anticholinergic SEs; take 30 min before bed, no food.
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PTCE exam tip
Doxepin at 3–6 mg (Silenor) is purely a sleep drug — the same molecule at ten times the dose is a tricyclic antidepressant. Dose-defines-indication is the trick.
Doxepin FAQ
What is Doxepin used for?
Doxepin is used to treat insomnia (sleep maintenance). Treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance (low-dose doxepin products).
What drug class is Doxepin?
Doxepin is a Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) (CNS/Psych group).
Is Doxepin a controlled substance?
No. Doxepin is not a federally controlled substance (it is unscheduled by the DEA).
Related drugs in the CNS/Psych group
Drill Doxepin the way the PTCE asks it
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Last reviewed June 25, 2026. Educational use only — not medical advice. Verify clinical specifics with your pharmacist or a current label source such as DailyMed. RxReflex is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).