Silenor® (doxepin) Tablets for Sleep-Maintenance Insomnia

What Silenor® Is and How It Works

Silenor® is a low-dose doxepin tablet used for sleep-maintenance insomnia. It helps people who wake during the night and have trouble returning to sleep. The tablets come in 3 mg and 6 mg strengths and are taken once nightly. Silenor is in the tricyclic antidepressant class, but the sleep effect occurs at much lower doses than for mood disorders.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy headquartered in Manitoba. Prescriptions are reviewed by licensed pharmacists before dispensing. We offer brand and generic medicines at Canadian prices and also carry OTC products. Ordering is available online, and friendly customer-service chat is available during posted office hours.

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Dosage and Usage

The usual starting dose is 3 mg within 30 minutes of bedtime. Many patients continue at 3 mg. Some may need 6 mg based on response and tolerability. Allow at least 7 hours before planned awakening.

• Take Silenor® within 30 minutes of bedtime on an empty stomach.
• Avoid taking it within 3 hours of a meal to reduce next-day drowsiness.
• Swallow tablets whole; do not crush or split.
• Do not take extra doses after waking in the night.
• If 3 mg is not effective and well tolerated, the 6 mg strength may be used under prescriber guidance.

Missed dose: If a dose is missed at bedtime, skip it. Do not take Silenor® during the night or the next morning.

Storage and travel:

• Store at room temperature, away from moisture and light.
• Keep tablets in the original container with the label.
• When traveling, carry medicines in your hand luggage.
• Use a pill organizer only if it stays dry and labeled.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Alcohol, sedatives, and antihistamines can increase sedation. Driving or operating machinery should be avoided until individual effects are known. MAO inhibitors are contraindicated; a washout period is required if switching.

Benefits and Savings

Silenor® is designed to help you stay asleep. It reduces wake time after sleep onset and can improve sleep quality and next-day function. It is not a benzodiazepine and has a low risk of dependence at approved doses.

Once-nightly dosing and low starting strength make it simple to use. Many people see benefits from the first night, with steady improvement across the first week. Tablets are small, and no special storage is needed.

Buying from YouDrugstore can offer 60–80% savings compared with typical US prices. We can send reorder reminders, and multi-month supplies may lower the monthly cost. Customer-service chat can help with ordering and shipping questions during posted office hours.

Side Effects and Safety

Most effects are mild and tend to improve with continued use. The risk of next-day sedation is higher if taken after a meal, at higher doses, or without enough time in bed.

• Common: drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, sore throat.
• Less common: constipation, urinary hesitation, headache, increased appetite.
• Serious (seek urgent care): signs of allergic reaction, severe urinary retention, sudden eye pain with vision changes (possible angle-closure glaucoma), confusion, falls.

Use caution in older adults due to anticholinergic effects and fall risk. Avoid use in untreated narrow-angle glaucoma or severe urinary retention. Do not combine with MAO inhibitors or within 14 days of stopping an MAOI. CYP2D6 inhibitors and cimetidine can raise doxepin levels; prescribers may adjust therapy. Alcohol intensifies sedation.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: discuss risks and benefits with a healthcare professional. Safety in children has not been established.

Onset Time

Silenor® starts to work the first night it is taken. Most people notice fewer nighttime awakenings within 30 to 60 minutes after dosing at bedtime. Consistent nightly use gives the best results. Taking it on an empty stomach helps reduce next-day grogginess and improves predictability.

Compare With Alternatives

Several medicines can affect sleep. Off-label low-dose Trazodone is sometimes used for sleep, especially in people with coexisting depression. It may increase next-day sedation and carry orthostatic hypotension risk.

For patients whose insomnia is related to anxiety or depression, treating the underlying condition may help sleep. Options like Paxil® Cr and Pristiq® are antidepressants used for mood and anxiety disorders; they are not indicated for insomnia and can be activating for some. Discuss the best approach with a prescriber.

Non-prescription antihistamines can cause prolonged drowsiness and anticholinergic effects. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is effective and can be combined with medications when needed.

Combination Therapy

Silenor® can be paired with non-drug strategies to improve sleep. CBT-I, stimulus control, and regular sleep-wake schedules improve long-term outcomes. Limit late caffeine and heavy evening meals. Keep the bedroom dark and cool. Avoid alcohol with Silenor® due to additive sedation. Do not combine with other sleep aids unless a prescriber directs it.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Silenor® suits adults with difficulty staying asleep who can allow a full night in bed. It may not be appropriate for untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, severe urinary retention, severe sleep apnea, or those using MAO inhibitors. People with liver disease, older adults, and those taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors need careful evaluation.

Tablets are available in 3 mg and 6 mg strengths to tailor dosing. If nighttime awakenings persist at 3 mg, prescribers may consider the 6 mg tablet. Do not exceed the prescribed dose. Review other sedating medicines to reduce additive effects.

To reduce costs, consider a multi-month supply when appropriate, as bulk promotions can lower per-month costs. Set optional reorder reminders so you never run out. For current offers and bulk options, see our silenor coupon.

Explore condition guides for Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression to learn more about related symptoms and treatments. For background on doxepin uses, see What Is Doxepin Used For.

Authoritative Sources

Review the FDA Prescribing Information for Silenor® on the FDA label. See the Health Canada Drug Product Database entry for doxepin under doxepin listings. For manufacturer details, consult the Silenor product page.

You can order Silenor® at Canadian prices from YouDrugstore with support from licensed pharmacists. We ship to the US with prompt, express, cold-chain shipping and careful packaging.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information and does not replace medical advice. Always follow the directions from the prescribing professional and the patient leaflet that comes with the medication.