Doxepin Hcl
Brand names: Silenor, Doxepin Hcl
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 858,801
- Medicare drug cost
- $41.6M
- Average cost per prescription
- $48.49
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 31,932
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Doxepin Hydrochloride Capsules, USP are recommended for the treatment of: Psychoneurotic patients with depression and/or anxiety. Depression and/or anxiety associated with alcoholism (not to be taken concomitantly with alcohol). Depression and/or anxiety associated with organic disease (the possibility of drug interaction should be considered if the patient is receiving other drugs concomitantly). Psychotic depressive disorders with associated anxiety including involutional depression and manic-depressive disorders. The target symptoms of psychoneurosis that respond particularly well to doxepin hydrochloride capsules include anxiety, tension, depression, somatic symptoms and concerns, sleep disturbances, guilt, lack of energy, fear, apprehension and worry. Clinical experience has shown that doxepin hydrochloride capsules are safe and well tolerated even in the elderly patient. Owing to lack of clinical experience in the pediatric population, doxepin hydrochloride capsules are not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated July 2025). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of doxepin hydrochloride or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and…
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 21.9%
- Psychiatry 19.6%
- Internal Medicine 14.3%
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners 13.2%
- Nurse Practitioners 11.7%
- Physician Assistants 5.1%
- Podiatrists 2.3%
- Neurology 1.7%
- Dermatology 1.4%
- General Practice 1.3%
- Pain Medicine 1.0%
- Sleep Medicine 0.9%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 13% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- New York +68%
- Utah +41%
- Arkansas +24%
- Minnesota +23%
- Colorado +23%
- Nebraska (smallest change) −8%
- Maine (smallest change) −4%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 3 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mg | blue oval tablet, 10 mm | 3 SP |
| 6 mg | green oval tablet, 10 mm | 6 SP |
Direct_rx
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | yellow capsule, 14 mm | 10MG MD12 |
Direct_rx
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | yellow capsule, 11 mm | LIFESTAR 424 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
No industry payments to clinicians named this drug in 2025.
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
1 recall since 2020
- Jul 2025 · Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited · Class II
CGMP Deviations: Presence of Nitrosamine Drug Substance Related Impurity above the proposed interim limit.
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.