Cidoxepin is the cis-isomer of the widely prescribed tricyclic compound doxepin. Commercial preparations of the tricyclic anti-depressant doxepin contain 15% of the more active cis-doxepin and 85% of the trans-isomer. Elorac, Inc., a rapidly growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of dermatological disorders, is pleased to announce that it has acquired worldwide rights to the active agent Cidoxepin from Gideon Pharmaceuticals. Cidoxepin appears to be much more potent than doxepin while having less sedative and cholinergic side effects. Elorac plans to develop oral formulations of the drug to treat urticaria and topical formulations for treatment of atopic and contact dermatitis.

Z-N-desmethyldoxepin is an active metabolite of doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant. Z-N-desmethyldoxepin appeared to be a terminal oxidative metabolite, in comparison with isomeric form E-N-desmethyl-doxepin, which is undergone further oxidation under the action of CYP2D6 activity.

Doxepin is a dibenzoxepin tricyclic antidepressant marketed worldwide. It is a white crystalline solid readily soluble in water, lower alcohols and chloroform. The mechanism of action of doxepin is not definitely known. It is not a central nervous system stimulant nor a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. The current hypothesis is that the clinical effects are due, at least in part, to influences on the adrenergic activity at the synapses so that deactivation of norepinephrine by reuptake into the nerve terminals is prevented. Antidepressants may increase risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (18–24 years of age) with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Drowsiness is the most commonly noticed side effect. This tends to disappear as therapy is continued. Other infrequently reported CNS side effects are confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, numbness, paresthesias, ataxia, extrapyramidal symptoms, seizures, tardive dyskinesia, and tremor. : Cardiovascular effects including hypotension, hypertension, and tachycardia have been reported occasionally. Skin rash, edema, photosensitization, and pruritus have occasionally occurred. Eosinophilia has been reported in a few patients. There have been occasional reports of bone marrow depression manifesting as agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and purpura. Doxepin is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, itchiness, trouble sleeping, and as a second-line treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives). Its oral formulations are FDA-approved for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and insomnia and its topical formulations are FDA-approved the short-term management (up to 8 days) of atopic dermatitis and lichen simplex chronicus. Whereas in Australia and the UK, the only licensed indication(s) is/are in the treatment of major depression and pruritus in eczema, respectively.

Doxepin is a dibenzoxepin tricyclic antidepressant marketed worldwide. It is a white crystalline solid readily soluble in water, lower alcohols and chloroform. The mechanism of action of doxepin is not definitely known. It is not a central nervous system stimulant nor a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. The current hypothesis is that the clinical effects are due, at least in part, to influences on the adrenergic activity at the synapses so that deactivation of norepinephrine by reuptake into the nerve terminals is prevented. Antidepressants may increase risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (18–24 years of age) with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Drowsiness is the most commonly noticed side effect. This tends to disappear as therapy is continued. Other infrequently reported CNS side effects are confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, numbness, paresthesias, ataxia, extrapyramidal symptoms, seizures, tardive dyskinesia, and tremor. : Cardiovascular effects including hypotension, hypertension, and tachycardia have been reported occasionally. Skin rash, edema, photosensitization, and pruritus have occasionally occurred. Eosinophilia has been reported in a few patients. There have been occasional reports of bone marrow depression manifesting as agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and purpura. Doxepin is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, itchiness, trouble sleeping, and as a second-line treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives). Its oral formulations are FDA-approved for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and insomnia and its topical formulations are FDA-approved the short-term management (up to 8 days) of atopic dermatitis and lichen simplex chronicus. Whereas in Australia and the UK, the only licensed indication(s) is/are in the treatment of major depression and pruritus in eczema, respectively.