Silenor (doxepin) - Silenor Side Effects, Silenor Dosage
Silenor is available in 3 mg and 6 mg strength tablets for oral administration. Its generic name is doxepin, which fall under the group of drugs called hypnotics.
Silenor Primary Uses:
This drug is formulated for insomnia. It treats people who are having difficulty sleeping. It is also used to keep the patient asleep for long hours.
Other Uses For Silenor
Silenor has other medical functions. But it has not been specified what are these uses. Since a drug could have other uses aside from what is really made for, Silenor could also have other functions. To make things clear, consult with your physician.
Silenor Side Effects:
Taking Silenor could have side effects, like any other drugs. This does not make Silenor a non-effective drug. Side effects usually occur when the patient is not fit to take the drug. Silenor side effects could be something minor, but it could also be more serious and severe.
Minor Silenor Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Weight changes
- Numbness
- Lack of coordination
- Blurred vision, ringing in the ears
- Strange dreams
- Blurred vision
- breast swelling (in men or women)
- decreased sex drive, difficulty having an orgasm
- Nausea, vomiting
- Diarrhea, loss of appetite, constipation
- Drowsiness, dizziness
- Cold symptoms>/li>
- Tiredness
Major Silenor Side Effects
- Irregular, fast heartbeat
- Frequent urination
- Extreme thirst
- Unusual thoughts and behavior
- Seizure
- Confusion and hallucinations
- Restless muscle movements
- Tremors
- Weakness Light-headedness, fainting
Seek immediate treatment if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Withdrawal Symptoms
An abrupt stop of taking the drug will likely cause withdrawal symptoms. This usually happens when the patient has become used to the drug. When the body has developed a certain degree of dependency, you should not suddenly stop taking the drug. Take lower Silenor dosage gradually until you reach a complete stop. Do not disregard the symptoms because they could be dangerous, sometimes fatal, to your health.
How To Take Silenor:
Take one tablet of Silenor once a day. Swallow the tablet whole and drink a glass of water. Take this drug at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Do not take this drug within three hours before or after eating your meal. If symptoms do not improve after regularly taking this drug for ten days, consult your doctor. Take the recommended Silenor dosage. Most importantly, follow the instructions in the prescription label. Also, follow the prescription and advice of your doctor.
What to Avoid When Taking Silenor:
There are conditions and contraindications when taking this drug. This means that there are some medicines that should not be taken with Silenor, for this could lessen the effectiveness of the drug or cause mild and severe symptoms. The following drugs should be avoided before taking Silenor:
- Tolazamide (Tolinase)
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Some medical conditions also have negative interaction with this drug, which could be unhealthy and dangerous to the patient. Do not take this drug if you have any of these medical conditions:
- Liver disease
- Bipolar disorder (manic-depression)
- Allergy to doxepin
- Depression
- Sleep apnea
Talk to your doctor about this matter before taking the drug, so that you will know if you are prescribed not to take the drug or allowed to take the drug but in lower dosage.
Warnings:
Pregnant women are not allowed to take this drug for it has not yet proven to be safe for the unborn baby. Better avoid taking the drug to prevent possible harm to the fetus. This drug is also not advised to be taken by lactating mother. There may be harmful agents that will be excreted in the milk of the mother. As for pediatric use, there has been no established clinical proof that this drug is safe and effective for children. For geriatric use, this drug should be administered in lower dosage, 3mg once daily. It should also be taken with extra caution. Closely monitor the condition of the elderly within periods of using this drug
Silenor Overdose And Remedy:Too much intake of this drug could have overdosage manifestations. These manifestations could sometimes disappear on its own; but this only applies to mild cases. But if the case is severe, the manifestations can be remedied only through medical treatment. There are even reports of fatality due to unattended drug overdose. The following are the symptoms of Silenor overdose: uneven heartbeats, extreme drowsiness, agitation, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, hallucinations, feeling hot or cold, muscle stiffness, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (convulsions), and in very serious cases, coma. To avoid this, do not take more Silenor dosage than what is prescribed to you. Immediate seek for medical advice and treatment are prescribed to those who experience any of the symptoms.
Take precaution when taking this drug. Silenor has been proven effective for insomnia. However, you should first ask for a medical advice because not all patients are allowed or recommended to use this drug. Follow the precautions and instructions regarding the use of this drug. Carefully read the instructions to avoid serious health problems. Make sure that you take the proper Silenor dosage prescribed by your doctor.