I've had trouble sleeping for years now. I took Seroquel for a long time, and it did help me sleep, but it also seemed to cause me to gain a lot of weight (which I couldn't lose even with dieting and exercise). My doctor switched me to Lunesta, but that didn't seem to help my insomnia. He just switched me again, this time to doxepin, but I've read that it can cause weight gain. I'd just like to know if people have found that to be the case...
Is doxepin likely to cause weight gain?
Question posted by hope316 on 2 April 2011
Last updated on 4 November 2020 by kbbills1
6 Answers
kbbills1
23 Dec 2018
It caused me to gain 37 lbs in 6 months, so I went off it. I got a new doctor this year who prescribed naltrexone for the off-label use of curbing food cravings & hunger & went back on doxepin with the naltrexone. I'm losing weight & am not having issues with the side effect of cravings & hunger from medications anymore. The only side effect I'm having from the doxepin now is RLS (restless leg syndrome), which I get with some meds & the sleep, antidepressant & anti-anxiety effects outweigh the RLS for me.
tkirk1980
13 Dec 2017
60 days ago I weighed 127 and was put on Doxepin. I still slept walked and today I weigh 158.2 I'm 5'2". Dramatic weight gain caused by this medicine. Today my Dr switched me to Rozerem.
dfdmedic
28 June 2017
Yes, doxepin will cause weight gain. Period. The higher the dose, the more dramatic the weight gain. Above 30mg and the weight gain escalates. The other 50% of this topic is that doxepin also makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to loose the weight once you gain it. I started taking it at bedtime because I can't take Ambien or Lunesta because of their side effects. The fact that a lot of people take at bedtime for sleep compounds this problem because you're taking it right when you are about to begin the least active metabolic period of the 24 hour cycle of a day/night. I started taking 10mg of melatonin one hour before I go to bed and keeping a consistent as possible sleep/wake time and I'm doing as good as when I was taking the doxepin.
Expierence: 15 years as a Paramedic/RN and personal expirence with doxepin.
Gretchena
15 Nov 2016
I've gained 32 pounds while on Doxepin in 12 months. I'm eating less and exercising more. Still can't lose it. I called my doctor and I'm stop taking it!!!
Nonnahsp
7 Oct 2015
The Seroquel didn't seem to cause me any weight gain but the doxepin have since I started taking it nightly in the last month maybe 2 months I've gained 20 pounds and no matter what I can not get the weight off. I'm going back to Trazodone to see if I at least stop gaining weight so fast
Nik.Nikita
2 April 2011
Hope, that's such a pretty name. Anyhow, it's not likely to cause weight gain. It's a lot safer than Lunesta, so thank god you quit taking that drug. Lunesta is a very dangerous sleep aid. it causes a person to sleep walk and do all kinds of daily activities like driving while on it, and not even realizing you are awake. Doxepin is a lot safer for sleep. It's also not addicting like Lunesta is. I've never heard of anyone gaining weight while using it. Good luck, NIK
Caryn Brown
5 Sep 2011
I was on Doxepin and it caused weight gain slowly over a period of time. But it doesn't cause you to gain weight if you don't give in to comfort food,which I am inclined to. I quit taking it because it quit working. Hope it works for you. Remember everyone is different and what works for one maybe will not work for another. Happy Hunting. Yea!!!
Tammy45
24 Feb 2014
How did you stop taking it? I'm taking 6mg and have put on 30 pounds. They say don't stop abruptly. But I wanna quit taking it.
kkchargrl
7 May 2014
I have been on Doxepin 10 mg for 4 1/2 years in that time I gained 55 lbs and no matter how many calories I cut and exercise I can't get the weight off. So 3 weeks ago I just stopped taking Doxepin cold turkey and I have lost 8 lbs already and that was the only change I made, so it is definitely the problem. Good luck
Tammy45
7 May 2014
Yes I just found out that it causes weight gain. He told me to take melatonin but I cant. Doesnt work. So back to Silenor ti I can do something different.
berlioz
3 July 2015
I have been put on 10mg of doxepin. I am anorexic and will not take anything that will make me gain weight. How likely is doxepin to cause weight gain?
Nonnahsp
7 Oct 2015
Ive had 2 children and even after kids I've been 96-98 lbs my whole life I'm 5"3 and have a very small frame my doctor put me on seraquil 2 years ago and Trazodone however I didn't like the Trazodone made me nauseous if I got up, so I stopped taking both then she's got me on 150mgs of doxepin since June 2015 I've gained 20lbs and can not get it off no matter what I do even skipping meals I'm still gaining 2lbs a day at times
Nonnahsp
7 Oct 2015
I can take it or not with no side effects so I'm stopping tonight and I'll keep you posted if I have side effects
Tph6
10 Feb 2017
I have been taking 25mg of doxepin and 10 mg paxil for one month and ive gained 12lbs. Doxepin does not help me sleep as promised so i take somnapure from walgreens and its the only thing ive found that works. I thought it was the paxil making me gain weight but now that im reading more it may be doxepin. I worked hard to get my weight down so I'm going to decrease my dose over time and get off of this. I cant handle the weight gain.
Bouba
31 Aug 2017
Hello I 've been taking silence 6 mg and my appetite has increase and so did my weight the best is silicone 7.5 mg beautiful.
Debbie220t
16 Feb 2018
I did and I gained it fast. Seemed like all in my stomach. The first month was 8 lbs and the second 10. It’s not worth it to me. The dr. Pulled me off it. It also gave me vivid, detailed dreams each night. I was on 10mg, for insomnia.
Related topics
weight loss (obesity/overweight), insomnia, sleep disorders, doxepin, sleep, weight, silenor
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