Doxepin Capsules, 50mg

Prescription Behavior and Allergy Capsules for Dogs and Cats

Product Description

Doxepin HCl 50mg Capsules are a prescription tricyclic antidepressant with strong antihistamine properties used off-label by vets for dogs and cats. Working through dopamine and histamine receptor activity in the brain and body, it eases anxiety-driven behavioral issues and relieves chronic allergic itching at the same time. The 50mg strength suits medium-sized dogs needing a precise intermediate dose for anxiety, depression, compulsive disorders, or pruritic skin conditions.

Benefits

• Anxiety and Depression Relief: Helps reduce depression, general anxiety, fear-based reactions, and noise phobia distress in dogs and cats.
• Chronic Itch Management: Brings antihistamine relief for long-lasting allergic itching and skin inflammation in pets that have not improved on standard treatments.
• Compulsive Grooming Control: Reduces psychogenic overgrooming, excessive licking, and self-traumatic behavior driven by compulsive or anxiety-related disorders in pets.
• Dual-Action Formula: Goes after both central nervous system pathways and peripheral histamine receptors to handle behavioral and skin conditions together.
• Intermediate Dose Flexibility: The 50mg strength offers a practical middle-range option between lower and higher capsule strengths for accurate weight-based dosing.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Doxepin Hydrochloride

How to Use

Doxepin HCl 50mg Capsules are a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.

Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your pet.

Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your pet.

Tucking the capsule inside a soft pill pocket or pill wrap treat makes giving this medication easy and stress-free for both you and your pet. The capsule may be given with or without food, but if your pet experiences vomiting on an empty stomach, offer the capsule with a small meal going forward. Make sure your pet always has fresh water nearby while taking this medication.

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Additional Information

Precautions

• Avoid With MAOIs: Keep away from pets that received selegiline or amitraz in the past 14 days as a dangerous drug interaction can follow.
• No Amitraz Flea Collars: Amitraz tick and flea collars must never be worn during doxepin treatment due to the serious toxic interaction risk they carry.
• Avoid Tyramine-Rich Foods: Aged cheeses and high-tyramine foods must stay off the menu completely as they can set off a dangerous blood pressure spike.
• Avoid in Glaucoma: Do not give to pets with glaucoma or urinary retention as doxepin can make both of these conditions noticeably worse over time.
• Caution in Seizures: Use very carefully in pets with any prior seizure history as doxepin can lower the threshold at which seizures occur.
• Caution in Thyroid Disease: Avoid in hyperthyroid pets as dangerous interactions between doxepin and elevated thyroid hormones can develop during treatment.
• Drug Interaction Risk: Tell your vet if the pet takes cimetidine, fluoxetine, estrogens, sedatives, enalapril, verapamil, or ranitidine before starting doxepin.

Possible Side Effects

• Drowsiness and Sedation: Sleepiness tends to ease as the pet settles in; it is the most commonly reported reaction during doxepin treatment.
• Dry Mouth and Constipation: Anticholinergic effects causing dry mouth and reduced bowel motility are commonly observed in pets receiving doxepin.
• Blue-Green Urine: Urine may turn blue-green in some pets on doxepin; this is a harmless metabolic effect that clears up once treatment stops.
• GI Upset and Excitability: Some pets get unusually wound up or have stomach issues like vomiting when first starting out on doxepin.
• Serious Cardiac Effects: Overdosing can trigger dangerous heart rhythm problems that need emergency veterinary attention as soon as they appear.

Storage Information

• Room Temperature Storage: Keep capsules in a sealed container at a steady temperature between 68°F and 77°F, well away from heat and moisture.
• Protect From Light: Sunlight and damp spots can break down the capsules over time, so keep them somewhere cool, dark, and dry.
• Keep Out of Reach: Put this medication somewhere children and untreated pets cannot get to it on their own.

Note: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.

Shipping & Return

We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What makes doxepin an effective antihistamine for pets with allergic skin conditions?

Ans: Doxepin is one of the strongest H1 antihistamines in veterinary medicine, blocking histamine far more effectively than everyday options like diphenhydramine. Vets turn to it for pets stuck in a cycle of chronic allergic itching that has not budged with standard antihistamine options already tried.

Q2: Can doxepin be prescribed for cats with anxiety and overgrooming?

Ans: Yes, doxepin is used off-label in cats for anxiety-driven overgrooming, psychogenic alopecia, and behavioral disorders. Cats process medications differently from dogs, so dosing for cats can look quite different. The vet sets the right amounts and intervals for each individual cat rather than applying standard dog dosing.

Q3: Does doxepin interact with any common flea and tick prevention products?

Ans: Amitraz-based flea and tick collars must never be used on pets taking doxepin as amitraz acts like an MAOI and the combination can turn dangerous. Most spot-on and oral options like fipronil, imidacloprid, and afoxolaner are safe, but always check with the vet before putting any new parasite product on a pet receiving doxepin.

Q4: How is the correct doxepin dose determined for a dog or cat?

Ans: The dose is based on body weight, with dogs typically getting anywhere from 0.25 to 2.5 mg per pound depending on what is being treated. The 50mg capsule tends to work well for medium-sized dogs. The vet works out the exact amount and picks the right capsule strength for each pet individually.

Q5: Should doxepin be tapered gradually when stopping treatment in pets?

Ans: Yes, stopping doxepin suddenly can bring on withdrawal effects like nausea, agitation, and behavioral shifts, so a gradual taper is the right approach. How long the taper takes depends on the dose and how long the pet has been on it. Never reduce or stop this medication without first checking with the vet.