Methods of using low-dose doxepin for the improvement of sleep
View Patent ↗Methods of preventing early awakenings, and improving sleep efficiency in hours 7 and 8 of a period of sleep, by administration of low doses of doxepin (e.g., 1-6 mg).
1. A method for reducing or preventing early awakenings in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
identifying a patient having a sleep disorder in which, for a given 8 hour period of desired sleep, the patient experiences a sleep period that terminates during the final 60 minutes of said period; and
providing to the patient doxepin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a dosage between about 0.5 and 6 mg that is effective to lengthen the sleep period.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is identified as experiencing a sleep period that terminates during the final 45 minutes of said period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is identified as experiencing a sleep period that terminates during the final 30 minutes of said period.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage is sufficient to lengthen the sleep period to terminate during the 8 th hour of said period.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sleep period is lengthened to terminate after hour 7.5 of said period.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is additionally identified as in need of reducing wake time after sleep.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient suffers from chronic or non-chronic insomnia.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the patient suffers from transient insomnia.
9. A method for decreasing fragmented sleep in the 8th hour of a sleep period for a patient, comprising:
identifying a patient suffering from fragmented sleep during the 8th hour of a sleep period; and
providing to the patient doxepin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a dosage between about 0.5 mg and 6 mg.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 1 mg, 3 mg or 6 mg.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 0.5 mg.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 1 mg.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 3 mg.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 6 mg.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said patient suffers from chronic or non-chronic insomnia.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the patient suffers from transient insomnia.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 1 mg, 3 mg or 6 mg.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 0.5 mg.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 1 mg.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 3 mg.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dosage of doxepin is about 6 mg.
22. A method for reducing early awakenings in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
identifying a patient having a sleep disorder in which, for a given 8 hour period of desired sleep, the patient experiences a sleep period that terminates during the final 60 minutes of said period; and
providing to the patient doxepin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a dosage between about 0.5 and 6 mg.