Doxepin for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 2)

• JB1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2017

"I retired over 3 yrs ago, and almost immediately my schedule began to change, ending up in a situation in which I couldn't fall asleep sometimes until as late as 5 or 6 am and not get up until around noon! Yesterday my lung doctor, who also does sleep studies, suggested doxepin. I had already had a bad experience with it many years ago - 10 mg. It put me to sleep, alright, but I felt like a frigging zombie the next day. He told me that was too strong a dose and recommended half of that. He also told me that most insurance companies won't pay for it in any dose except the generic 10 mg. capsule, not the 3mg. tablet or the liquid. So, I half the capsules nightly in water. Slept fine, no hangover. Retired at 11:30 & up at 8. Hope tonight's the same. Dose is key!"

• joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2013

Doxepin "This medicine was just like taking Benadryl, only more expensive. An hour to two hours after taking Silenor, I still couldn't fall asleep...not even the slightest bit tired. Once I had fallen asleep, I would wake up 2-4 hours later and be wide awake for the rest of the night."

• Non...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2020

"Not sure how some are getting 3, 6 mg doses. Mine are 50 mg, 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."

• 456...
• June 19, 2013

"I have been taking 25 mg of Doxepin for 17 years. I always could fall asleep, but if I woke up during the night, I couldn't go back to sleep for hours. Doxepin was like a miracle to me. I was never groggy the next morning and it didn't make me sleepy and groggy right after taking it. It just lets me go right back to sleep if I get up to use the bathroom. It still works after all these years, not as well though. I have weaned myself off of it, but I start having hot flashes off and on all day, so I start taking it again. And after being off of it for a few days, the sleep problems seem to be back, so I may be on this for the rest of my life. I have recommended this to several friends and it has also helped them."

• jmm...
• May 23, 2013

"This medication knocked me out every night, so it was great to catch up on years of sleep debt. Overall, a very positive experience. However, like other users, I slowly gained 10-20 pounds over the course of taking doxepin. I stopped taking it in the last couple of months, and suddenly, my appetite significantly decreased and weight just started dropping off. I had no idea that the medication caused this increased appetite/weight gain. Honestly, I thought I was just growing older and my metabolism was changing. I'm glad I took this medication for insomnia, and also that the side effect of weight gain faded away as soon as I stopped taking it. Overall, the value of the sleep I gained far outweighed the con of the weight I gained."

• aqu...
• August 10, 2014

"I started this medication about 10 days ago. Doxepin, 10mg, has been working more days than not. Like most medicines, the first few days it worked like a charm. I took it and I slept about 5.5 hours straight. Sometimes I can go back to sleep for another 1/2 an hour. I do feel a little help in the anxiety category. Not a lot but it does help a bit. The bad thing about this medicine is that you feel very sedated throughout the day. You know you slept because of the vivid dreams and you don't wake up the whole night. Nevertheless, you feel extremely tired the whole day. I wish I didn't have to take medicines. But I'd rather be feeling sleepy and knowing that I slept as opposed to feeling sleepy due to no sleep."

• Jab...
• August 30, 2013

"I've been using doxepin for about 2 years for insomnia. I used to wake every night after 2-3 hours of sleep and then was unable to get back to sleep for 1-2 hours. This has helped tremendously. I now sleep through the night, dream, and feel better throughout the day. If I do wake, I am able to roll over and get back to sleep quickly. I take it just prior to bed and get about 7 solid hours of sleep. I experience some dry mouth in the morning, but nothing severe, and it can be a bit difficult to get going in the morning. Overall, I'm much better than before."

• Anonymous
• October 7, 2010

Doxepin "I was skeptical since I have tried every possible remedy out there. I was simply amazed that I actually have been sleeping 7 to 8 hours straight without any nasty morning hangover like I had experienced with the others. I can't believe that I could actually take this every night. No addiction!"

• Bob...
• October 7, 2010

Doxepin "I have been using Ambien for years for sleep maintenance. I tried Silenor over the last week and it's been fantastic! I don't have any side effects whatsoever in the morning. Slept 7 hours straight every time I took it."

• Kry...
• December 19, 2013

"I have taken doxepin every day for 29 years. I started taking 75 to 150 mg for depression, but once the depression lifted, I continued taking 10-25 mg a day for insomnia. It has been a lifesaver for me as, since my teens, I have not been able to sleep without a sleep aid, over-the-counter, prescription. Doxepin allows me to fall asleep and stay asleep for 6-8 hours. When I started taking it I gained 10 lbs. in a week and have never lost it. I have dry mouth, but that is an inconvenience that I am willing to put with. I tried to wean myself off once, about 10 years ago, but felt very bad flu-like symptoms so I started taking them again. In the past 5 years so 10mg doesn't always do the job and so I often take 20 mg."

• gin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2015

"Doxepin at 150 mg saved my life! I've had chronic insomnia for as long as I can remember, with sometimes several nights resulting in no sleep at all. I was diagnosed with a number of major medical problems from early adulthood, the worst of which being Type 1 Diabetes at age 24, so managing my overall healthcare now at age 55 is complicated by the severe sleep deprivation. I inherited all of the medical problems from both sides of the family tree and, from my father, inherited a unique tolerance to any sedating medications, so no sleep aid I was ever prescribed was effective. About 8 months ago, a new psychiatrist asked about sleep problems, resulting in a prescription for 150 mg Doxepin. Every night since-a full, deep night's restorative sleep!"

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2023

"I was taking 10 mg after being off of it for a while, but it wasn’t working as well as when I first started the 10 mg around the beginning of 2021. I asked my psychiatrist to increase the dose a couple of days ago, and he increased it to 25 mg. I never feel this medication start to work because I easily fall asleep, and then it just keeps me asleep until my alarm goes off. I’m making up for a long time of sleep deprivation, and I slept for 9 hours and 43 minutes last night (Apple Watch tracking my sleep). I have not been able to sleep like this since my thirties (I’m 44 now), before I really started to suffer from insomnia. I think this medication works best for people who cannot stay asleep rather than people who can’t fall asleep. I tried trazodone a couple of times in recent years, and it doesn’t work for me like it did when I was 19 years old and first put on it. Doxepin is a game changer when you’ve been suffering from severe sleep deprivation."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2016

"Ok.... OMG!! Sooo.. let me just say look at all the insomniacs (true diagnosed people by psych docs) that have had a great experience with this.. benzos are terrible for you ... but doxepin has yet to wake me up ... has yet to not work.. and has yet to give me dreams or night terrors... now if you're like me and you can go 3 days with zero sleep ... while trying trazodone and even Seroquel.. you know restlessness and complete misery.. once on doxepin I slept great... didn't get up groggy (8-hour sleep ideal per 25 mg tablet) and it even combats IBS and my case Crohn's"

• Ano...
• June 14, 2014

"I've suffered with insomnia for several years now. At times, sleeping only 1 hour before having to get up to go to work. My Dr. prescribed Silenor, but my insurance gave me Doxepin (25mg). The biggest mistake I made was taking it right before bed because it doesn't help you fall asleep, only helps you stay asleep. Once I fell asleep, I didn't wake up at all until the following morning. If you have children or anyone else to depend on you for care, I wouldn't recommend it. I was actually awakened by my boys, and I felt very drowsy, groggy, and irritable. So much so that I caught myself yelling at my kids. I wasn't able to function 100%. This would ONLY be good if you have nothing to do or no one to care for the next day."

• geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2013

"Did not take too long to go to sleep. Had some dreams but not nightmares. Woke with dry mouth and a little groggy. Within an hour of being up, I feel very alert, almost energetic, not sure how to explain it, just overall feel better than I have in weeks. Last night was my first dose of 25 mg. So we will see how it goes, hope I don't gain weight, as I have read about. I have had sleep issues for years and tried everything, hope this continues to work."

• Anonymous
• October 7, 2010

Doxepin "Got a sample and tried it last night. Slept for 6 hours straight, bathroom break then back to sleep for another hour. No side effects waking up. Felt great...really liked it. If you have trouble staying asleep more than 3-4 hours, suggest you try it!"

• Can...
• November 3, 2010

Doxepin "I have suffered from lack of sleep for many years and have tried most things on the market and even herbal infusions. Silenor gave me solid sleep with no side effects or that heavy, awful feeling of being drugged. I hope other sufferers will have the chance of restful sleep."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2023

"I’ve been using doxepin for a while now, and I find it very useful for helping with sleep. I use 10 mg every night, and I usually get 7-8 hours. The first week or so, yes, I felt pretty hung over and sleepy all day, but that faded as I stuck with it. Does it truly knock me out? I’m not sure. I seem to fall back asleep upon awakening much easier now. I also believe doxepin improves my mood and anxiety overall, which makes sleep easier all on its own. I haven’t gained weight… In fact, it’s the opposite for me. I have way more energy now due to more sleep, so I’ve been exercising and dieting better than when I was getting bad sleep. I have tried 3 mg and 6 mg (I used a compound pharmacy due to those dose sizes not being covered by insurance for some reason), but I don’t find them more useful than 10 mg. I have also used trazodone in the past, and I feel that doxepin works better and doesn’t cause a stuffy nose like trazodone does. I say give it a try!"

• Bro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2017

Doxepin "I have been on Silenor since shortly after it hit the market in 2011. It has been life-changing. I can nap now, and some nights I can even sleep without it, which never happened on any other sleep meds. I will say it took about 4 weeks when I initially started it for it to really do the job; those were rough weeks. I also have very good commercial insurance that only requires a $5.00 copay for a 3-month supply; my old plan used to require $100 for a 39-day supply. Since it is not cost-prohibitive, it works well."

• Pos...
• April 24, 2014

"Developed acute insomnia immediately following a bad concussion. I would doze off, but would wake up within 30 minutes, unable to fall back asleep for hours at a stretch. Tried several sleeping medications (off-label use of trazodone, Ambien, melatonin, OTC sleep aids) with no success for several weeks and was getting desperate. A mere 3 mg of doxepin saved my life. I slept for six straight hours the first night and it only got better and better. I take 3 mg around 9 pm, sleep from 11 pm to 6 am very reliably, and have few side effects besides a small amount of weight gain (about five pounds in my first two weeks) and slight drowsiness in the mornings and mid-afternoons. I'm so grateful to have my sleep back."

• Anonymous
• May 21, 2012

Doxepin "This medication has been working well for me so far and I've tried them all. Glad it comes in 2 doses. I figure I can get good results with 3mg, why bump up to 6mg. Side effects are nothing compared to others I have tried. I hope I don't get used to it, but my doctor said it's not addicting."

• Sle...
• March 2, 2013

Doxepin "I too have tried Ambien, and since I heard many of my friends become slightly addicted to it, my doctor switched me to Silenor. It definitely works! And it doesn't give me that weird feeling like Ambien did at times. A couple of my other friends also say it worked for them. The copay was just as much as Ambien on my insurance."

• Nop...
• November 9, 2016

Doxepin "I have been on Silenor for 6 months now. I have a ton of medications that I take for my Bipolar Type IIA with a Panic Disorder. They help, but my mind would never stop so that I could sleep well. I take Silenor with a couple of medications (which I will not list) at night and sleep fine. No side effects noticed, but I take so many medications during the day that I might not notice them. I have been dealing with my illness for about 20 years now, so side effects are not a huge deal to me because most go away after 30 days. Now, if they are too severe, then I will consult my doctor. You have to give these types of medications a chance. It's not like taking a Tylenol for a headache."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

Doxepin "Have had chronic premature waking for years. Silenor not covered by insurance. $500.00, outrageous for doxepin in a smaller dose. Had a compounding pharmacy make 5 mg caps. Insurance then paid part. I paid 10.00. Last night, 1st trial. Slept...wait for it...9 hours! Felt a little bit groggy, but now feel well and awake."

• Ton...
• November 21, 2019

"I am taking this for the second time. The first time, about two years ago, I didn’t give it enough of a chance. My new doc asked me to try it again. I take 10 mg about two hours before I know I want to go to bed. It has been working. I still wake up in the middle of the night, but I’m able to go back to sleep. I wake up in the morning, and after an initial fog, I’m OK. No other side effects. So I think it’s working for me. I’ve been taking it about six months."