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Doxepin User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Silenor Adapin

Doxepin has an average rating of 6.0 out of 10 from a total of 419 reviews on Drugs.com. 52% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 35% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Doxepin

  • zanyl...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 8, 2014

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "For as long as I can remember, I have had issues with falling asleep and remaining asleep. This occurred in childhood also. It seems to be a family trait. However, my doctor prescribed Silenor and what a difference this pill makes! To have always had problems sleeping and then suddenly, a pill changes the problem. Over the years I have taken, Lunesta, Ambien, Tylenol PM, Melatonin, Benadryl...all stopped working within a period of 3-5 months. Not so with Silenor. I read some posts stating that Silenor has caused weight gain. I have not noticed such, but I do not keep a weight scale in my house. For the present, I will only say that for a chronic lifetime insomniac, I wish that I had this pill 44 years ago. Age now 49."

8 / 10
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326 Report
  • Annie...
  • May 13, 2014

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I couldn't stay asleep, tried Lunesta and Ambien, they had side effects I couldn't tolerate. Sleep center said I had mild apnea and said their monitors showed me sleeping but I felt like I was awake more than they said I was and was literally exhausted every day, felt like I was on the verge of "losing it," crying a lot. Was not sad/depressed--was sleep deprived. Have been taking 2 Silenor a night for 2 years: sleep like a baby, 8 hours required, wake up rested, functioning beautifully--I have my life back."

10 / 10
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325 Report
  • Good...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 19, 2013

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "This medicine worked beautifully for me; I have no complaints. But when my insurance changed and I couldn't take it any longer, I had to try and go without it. I didn't realize that it had been the source of my weight gain and why I couldn't lose the weight no matter what I tried. After stopping taking it I dropped 10 lbs almost immediately WHILE I WAS ON SPRING BREAK and eating way more than usual and not working out 4 times a week as usual. I'm glad I took it and that it helped me, but I just wanted to share this experience so that others won't mistakenly think that age was causing them to gain weight and not lose it no matter what they tried."

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Frequently asked questions

  • Mikey...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 14, 2019

For Insomnia "doxepin does keep you asleep but the majority of the time will keep you drowsy and groggy the whole next day. Isn't that why we are taking it so we DON'T feel that way the next day? I would sleep over 8 hours and still feel groggy and drowsy and gross the next day. No thanks."

3 / 10
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124 Report
  • RGano
  • September 14, 2019

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I wanted to take a break from Ambien that I had been taking for sleep problems. I've been on Ambien for over 10 years. I took Silenor every night for 60 days. It felt different than Ambien, but honest to God I slept all 60 nights on it. Good to know it works If I need to go back to it! Also, I did not have any Ambien withdrawals."

9 / 10
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121 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Never...
  • June 13, 2021

For Anxiety "I have suffered from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep issues since my teens. I began doxepin in combination with hydroxyzine and I have experienced life changing results. I used to sleep 12 hours I would still be exhausted. My cognitive function is amazing. I no longer feel sick all the time, I wake up completely alert instead of groggy and in physical pain. The hydroxyzine has been very effective when I begin to notice myself getting over stimulated during the day. My anxiety essentially turns down to normal which has been a game changer for me. Fears that had been extremely taxing on me mentally and physically due to excessive anxiety and irregular sleep and eating are easy now. I used to crumble under pressure, procrastinate everything rather than just doing it... I am frankly blown away by the results. I feel normal for the first time in my life."

10 / 10
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81 Report
  • sunbl...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 7, 2021

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "Took 3 mg last night and not only fell asleep immediately, but stayed asleep for 12 hours. I did wake up twice to pee, but fell asleep right away. Tonight I'm going to try 1.5 mg, as 12 hours was way too long. But I have no sleep hangover and feel great. Hoping that this will be "the one." Tried everything and so far, this one is the best."

10 / 10
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85 Report
  • Every...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 1, 2014

For Insomnia "I am an addict and have had chronic insomnia for 20 years, so as you would imagine I've tried everything and abused everything. Doxepin is a miracle med for me. I take 10 to 30mg depending on how sleepy I am. I have no side effects, no weight gain, no sleepiness the next day. Want extra help? Read up on Magnesium. Just added that with amazing results. Depression and anxiety...well haven't found the miracle for those yet."

10 / 10
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188 Report
  • Ritas...
  • August 18, 2019

For Insomnia "I have struggled with anxiety and insomnia for years and have been prescribed all manner of medication (klonopin, Xanax, prozac you name it). Since I was a little kid this has been a problem. Now at 21 I was finally prescribed Doxepin and though I have only been using it (50 mg at bedtime) for a week, it has changed my perspective on anxiety. I feel a sense of tiredness and readiness to go to sleep that I have not felt on any other substance I have used to try and fall asleep. I have been able to get to sleep by 11 pm and wake up at 8 am refreshed and ready for the day which is not something I have been able to say for a long time if ever. My only problem with Doxepin is that when I wake up I have very bad dry mouth (almost cotton mouth) for several hours into the day but it eventually goes away and in no way eclipses the helpfulness of this medication for me. All in all (so far) Doxepin has worked incredibly well for me and I am thankful to finally have been prescribed it."

9 / 10
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99 Report
  • Pmillz
  • April 23, 2021

For Anxiety "I’m taking 10mg doxepin in the evening. This is an older medicine that came out in 1969, this means that it has been around a long time and so what side effects there are, are largely known by now. I opted for the 10mg since 3mg & 6mg (for insomnia) is expensive. I have suffered with anxiety & insomnia for a few years now. The higher mg’s (150mg-300mg) target areas of the brain affected by depression and anxiety (per MD). The 10mg has helped both with my insomnia & anxiety. I have taken many different medicines to deal with my anxiety. I was having insomnia with Celexa & had to take Xanax to deal with it, it worked aside from insomnia. I have struggled for a long time to find something that actually works & I am grateful that I am able to sleep & be free of anxiety! I read the reviews on doxepin prior to taking it & saw several that said it caused them to gain weight. This has not been my experience. I’ve had no side effects &, best of all, I’ve gotten my life back."

10 / 10
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69 Report
  • Mary
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 27, 2018

For Anxiety "I’ve been struggling with PTSD for well over 10 years. Incapacitating anxiety, insomnia, depression. I could no longer function at all. I’ve tried everything! Nothing worked unless it made it worse and gave me extremely bad side effects. It was so excruciating that I really wanted to throw in the towel. I started Doxepin about 6 or weeks ago. Then suddenly the intensity of my disorder severely decreased. Almost overnight and has continued to without any dips in its time. I’m absolutely stunned! I’m still on the low starting dose too. I’m overjoyed by relief. I’ve become myself again. I can actively participate in daily activities like showering, leaving my house, answering the phone, basic things that people take for granted. Before, I was totally immobilized. I hope this continues"

10 / 10
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115 Report
  • ToddOne
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 15, 2013

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I have been taking Silenor every night for 5 months and love it. It doesn't knock me out or make me loopy like Ambien. Silenor just makes me a bit drowsy, but more importantly is that when I wake up in the middle of the night I fall right back to sleep - which is a lifesaver for me. Since it's non-addictive, this is great for just normal calm times in my life, which is 95% of the time. But when I'm stressing out over something and all panicky, then Silenor does practically nothing for me. I have to take Ambien or Ativan during that 1-2 week period I'm stressing."

9 / 10
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166 Report
  • eddie
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 7, 2020

For Insomnia "I wanted to like it. I read all the good reviews. The first night I slept great (felt like normal sleep and not dopey like trazodone/xanax). The next morning I felt TOO good. I am not bipolar. Later I felt unusually emotional. I tried again the next day and had terrible side effects. Feelings of derealization. Dry mouth. Racing heart, clammy, sweating. It made me feel like my soul was being sucked from my body and I didn't care and was just watching myself from 10 inches away. Everything about it was SUBTLE but it felt like it was drastically changing my chemistry in a freaky way. I can't stand the stuff and flushed it down the toilet."

1 / 10
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79 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 19, 2014

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "Silenor was a nightmare for me. I stuck with it for about 3 weeks and thought I was going out of my mind. I did not sleep at all for the first 4 days and then the hallucinations began. If I did sleep it was in for about 30 minutes at a time and then the terrible nightmares kept me awake for the rest of the night. "

1 / 10
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150 Report
  • Trey
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 23, 2020

For Insomnia "Always have had a hard time getting to sleep but these past months it’s gotten so bad I went to the doctor who first put me on trazodone and all that did was make me feel tired I still couldn’t sleep. The doctor then gave me 10 mg of doxepin and said I could take 20 mg if I had too and honestly it doesn’t work. I had my hopes high because he was saying how much he loved the medication. It might as well be a placebo, I took 20 mg and 5 hours later with proper sleep hygiene before and all I have is a dry mouth and the walls look like they’re breathing. It hasn’t really effected me differently and I’ve been taking this medication for awhile now. I honestly can’t recommend this medication."

1 / 10
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73 Report
  • Carol...
  • December 2, 2016

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I have had depression, anxiety and insomnia issues for decades, and have tried many approaches for these issues, including psychological, sleep study, endocrine, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal formulas, homeopathics, aromatherapy, exercise, meditation, diet, and too many depression and insomnia medications to count. While I have had some success, especially with more natural approaches, I found this past several years that NOTHING helped, or it didn't help for long. My doctor recently gave me some Silenor samples to try, and I was absolutely blown away by their efficacy. I took the lower dose of 3mg 30 minutes before bedtime and slept great all the way through the night, 8-9 hours! No side effects, either. I wish I could afford them!"

10 / 10
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116 Report
  • Ang
  • January 8, 2021

For Anxiety "I was on doxepin a while ago but weaned myself off it, thinking my anxiety wasn't that bad and I could try mindfulness/natural herbs. Well that wasn't a good idea. Ended up in hospital with heat arrhythmia and terrible anxiety/no sleep. I didn't realise how well this medication works while on it. After 2 days back on it I'm sleeping and my heart has gone back to normal. I'm on 75mg and will be for life. I have had no unpleasant side effects apart from going off it. Saved my life really. 10/10"

10 / 10
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62 Report
  • JustMe
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 29, 2020

For Insomnia "Didn’t work well for anxiety/depression or insomnia; but worked very well to make me fat (20 pound weight gain) and triglycerides went quite high. Off now. Weight down. Triglycerides went back to normal. Caused metabolic syndrome?"

1 / 10
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72 Report
  • Adriana
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • April 9, 2016

For Depression "Has many years of problems with depression, anxiety , derealization etc. Eventually learned these all related to Complex Multiple Trauma. But that is another story. Doxepin pretty much the ONLY antidepressant that has ever helped me. Totally a life saver over and over for me. It is HIGHLY calming as well as anti-deprssing. That is because simultaneous to increasing serotonin and norepinephrine, is a beta adrenergic blocker (hence anti fear etc) BUT here is the real amazing thing about Doxepin - it is VERY anti- inflammatory. Neuroinflammation (brain inflammation) is a big issue in mental health problems. Doxepin - out if ALL dregs, addresses this best of all. Search pub med. Doxepin has saved my life many times over several decades."

10 / 10
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113 Report
  • Jano
  • August 18, 2015

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I have had trouble staying asleep for several years. No problems falling asleep, but most nights I wake up around 3 or 4AM (five hours into my sleep) and from that point forward I sleep fitfully. I tried Silenor (actually generic Doxepin) for about three weeks. It seemed to help a bit for the first few days, but after a few weeks I noticed no improvement beyond no medication. First few days I experienced about a 1-2 low grade hang-over. The most notable part of the experience was the very vivid dreams I had. They were not nightmares, but they tended to be disturbing and about mundane aspects of life. Things like being late for appointments, dealing with unwanted guests, arguments with friends, etc."

3 / 10
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119 Report
  • Cant...
  • November 14, 2014

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I've been on Ambien and it was too strong. It gave me brain fog the next day. Taking half a pill helped but I did not like that it was habit forming. Got some samples of Silenor 3mg and it helped keep me sleeping or if I woke up I would go back to sleep. I only take half a pill with an 8 oz glass of water and that does the trick. It also helps to use earplugs to keep out noise. Ive noticed that some people complain of weight gain. I cant imagine how that could happen if you are sleeping. But if Im awake and nibbling in the middle of the night, unless I up my exercise it's to be expected."

9 / 10
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123 Report
  • Bccmor
  • September 8, 2014

Silenor (doxepin) for Insomnia "I was on zopiclone for about 14 years and was successful in weening myself off but having difficulty sleeping again. Doctor prescribed Silenor 3mg and with directions "take 1 or 2 tablets as needed". I've opted to take 1/2 tablet (1.5 mg) to start. I've been sleeping and feeling rested on awakening. Not sure if it's psychological or not."

8 / 10
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120 Report
  • None
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 4, 2020

For Insomnia "Not sure how some are getting 3, 6mg doses. Mine are 50mg and I take 2 capsules each night and barely helps with sleep. No grogginess next day either. Not sure how such a small dose would do anything at all."

2 / 10
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64 Report
  • Marco
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • October 16, 2020

For Anxiety "After most of my life at least 40 Years. I have been on tricyclic antidepressants it took a long time to get diagnosed I see my condition as generalised anxiety as I had no real classic signs of depression, 10 years ago I enede up in Hospital and they gave me anti psychotic medications seraquel nothing worked. After giving me xanax which within an hour I was back to myself they discharged me on xanax. I saw my psychiatrist of 20 years and he prescribed Doxepin and within 4 week I came literally out of a nightmare. I still have 2 hour to come round in the morning but it sure is better than the extreme anxiety and worry I was experiencing. So I don't want to upset the apple cart as I have so I continue to keep up my regime and I'm quite pleased with have a life without extreme anxiety panic disorder which is my exact diagnosis."

8 / 10
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53 Report
  • Helped
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 27, 2020

For Insomnia "I suffered severe sleep maintenance insomnia for five years, set off initially by menopause night sweats. I started this medication three months ago and it has made a huge difference to my quality of life! It will not be a ‘fix’ in itself, as I’ve found it works well in conjunction with a CBT based approach (cognitive and behavioural sleep management strategies). I started with 20mg as 10 wasn’t effective at first, but I have been able to reduce back to 10mg over the past month with good success. 20mg did leave me with a ‘hangover’ effect in the mornings, but at least I got a solid stretch of sleep!!"

8 / 10
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59 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.