Methods of using low-dose doxepin for the improvement of sleep

Abstract

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 treating sleep maintenance insomnia characterized by early awakenings during the 8 th  hour of sleep in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 identifying an elderly patient having a sleep disorder in which, for a given 8 hour period of desired sleep, the patient experiences early awakenings during the final 60 minutes of said period; and   administering to the patient, prior to the sleep period, doxepin or a pharmaceutically accept salt thereof in a dosage of at least 3 mg, up to 6 mg, wherein the dosage is effective to improve sleep maintenance insomnia by reducing early awakenings during the 8 th  hour of the sleep period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dosage is effective to improve the sleep maintenance insomnia while minimizing next day residual sedation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sleep maintenance insomnia is a chronic insomnia. 
     
     
         4 . A method for treating sleep maintenance insomnia characterized by fragmented sleep during the 8 th  hour of sleep in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 identifying an elderly patient having a sleep disorder in which, for a given 8 hour period of desired sleep, the patient experiences fragmented sleep during the final 60 minutes of said period; and   administering to the patient, prior to the start of the sleep period, doxepin or a pharmaceutically accept salt thereof in a dosage of at least 3 mg, up to 6 mg, wherein the dosage is effective to improve sleep maintenance insomnia by reducing fragmented sleep during the 8 th  hour of the sleep period.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dosage is effective to improve the sleep maintenance insomnia while minimizing next day residual sedation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sleep maintenance insomnia is a chronic insomnia.