Two medicines, side by side
Doxepin vs nortriptyline
Doxepin and nortriptyline are both labeled for depression. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxepin since 1969 and of nortriptyline since 1964. Pharmacies paid $0.0779 per doxepin 10 mg capsule and $0.113 per nortriptyline HCl 10 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the doxepin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 30, 2025); the nortriptyline FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2024).
Highlights of the doxepin record
Doxepin (Sinequan) · label of December 30, 2025
Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of doxepin hydrochloride or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.
Used for
From the label: indicationsDoxepin Hydrochloride is recommended for the treatment of: Psychoneurotic patients with depression and/or anxiety. Depression and/or anxiety associated with alcoholism (not to be taken concomitantly with alcohol). Depression and/or anxiety associated with organic disease (the possibility of drug interaction should be considered if the patient is receiving other drugs concomitantly). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 23, 1969
- Generic labelers
- 49 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0779 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the nortriptyline record
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) · label of December 4, 2024
Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of nortriptyline hydrochloride or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.
Used for
From the label: indicationsPamelor™ (nortriptyline HCl) is indicated for the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous depressions are more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive states.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 6, 1964
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.113 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxepin label of December 30, 2025, Nortriptyline label of December 4, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxepin and nortriptyline differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class tricyclic antidepressants.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: doxepin since 1986; nortriptyline since 1992 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxepin | Nortriptyline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression, Anxiety, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Insomnia | Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Tricyclic Antidepressant | Tricyclic Antidepressant |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 23, 1969 | November 6, 1964 |
| First generic approved | May 13, 1986 | March 30, 1992 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 49 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0779 per capsule (Doxepin 10 mg capsule) | $0.113 per capsule (Nortriptyline HCl 10 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,554 | 5,761 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Nortriptyline label, warningsIf concomitant use of Pamelor with other serotonergic drugs, including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, tryptophan, and St. John’s Wort is clinically warranted, patients should be made aware of a potential increased risk for serotonin syndrome, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to doxepin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions