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What are high-dose Doxylamine symptoms & emergency response?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My friend took a higher-than-usual dose of a sleep aid specifically around 350 mg of Unisom (Doxylamine succinate). This was not a suicide attempt, but he is extremely drowsy, and I am concerned. He does have a history of depression and substance use. I am wondering if this dose could be dangerous or potentially harmful.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Penchilaprasad Kandikattu

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Penchilaprasad Kandikattu is a General Practitioner with 15 years of clinical experience. He pursued his MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, and MD in General Medicine from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka. He is specialized in treating acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education to patients. Currently, he is working at Sri Sai Hospital, Mancherial, Telangana.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I completely understand your concerns.

The usual dose of Doxylamine succinate as an antihistamine will not exceed greater than 60 mg per day. Excessive dose may cause CNS (central nervous system) depression, palpitations, tachycardia, disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, paradoxical central nervous system stimulation, vertigo, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, dry mucous membranes, epigastric pain, xerostomia, dysuria, urinary retention, blurred vision and diplopia.

So, there is no specific antidote treatment and symptomatic support may be required. If it is severe CNS depression, it can lead to coma. So, please consult your doctor immediately. He will examine and treat him accordingly. For more information consult an internal medicine physician online.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert if there is any query.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At April 6, 2018
Reviewed At January 27, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Penchilaprasad Kandikattu is a General Practitioner with 15 years of clinical experience. He pursued his MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, and MD in General Medicine from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka. He is specialized in treating acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education to patients. Currently, he is working at Sri Sai Hospital, Mancherial, Telangana.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Penchilaprasad Kandikattu is a General Practitioner with 15 years of clinical experience. He pursued his MBBS from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, and MD in General Medicine from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka. He is specialized in treating acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education to patients. Currently, he is working at Sri Sai Hospital, Mancherial, Telangana.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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