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Doxepin for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 5)

Brand names: Silenor Adapin

Reviews for Doxepin

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Mel...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 11, 2024

Doxepin "Wow. I have struggled with sleep since I was a very young child. I had ADHD and had a lot of anxiety a lot of my life. At one point, I stayed awake for 5 days straight. It was terrible. Even Ambien wasn't working for me. I thank God I gave this a try as I had very little hope when it was prescribed. I take 3-6 mg depending on the night. It doesn't knock me out like Ambien would for some people but slowly slows my brain down and gives me good and deep sleep all night. The first night I slept 5 hours on it - after my bout of not sleeping for 5 days. I now sleep well every night going on three years."

9 / 10
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4 Report
  • boo...
  • August 7, 2019

Doxepin "The first time my Dr. gave me Silenor samples, he didn't tell me it specifically helps you 'get back to sleep,' so it didn't work for me because I didn't take anything with it. A year later, I tried the 6 mg samples again. This time I added 3 mg Melatonin (time released) and 1 - 25 mg Benadryl to help me initially get to sleep. When I woke up to go to the bathroom, I COULD GET BACK TO SLEEP!! I take it every night without fail. I don't like having to make sure I've not eaten for 2 1/2 to 3 hours before I take Silenor, but it was worth it to get a good night's sleep, and I thank Jesus and my Dr. for helping me to find it! I use CVS pharmacy, and it was cheaper to get a 3-month supply ($125) from the mail-order company than going to the store. This worked REALLY WELL for me for about one and a half years!! Now I am having trouble sleeping even with my 3-pill concoction. I may try going back to Trazodone and Melatonin. We'll see..."

8 / 10
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24 Report
  • msk...
  • April 17, 2016

"Have been taking doxepin 10 mg for sleep for at least 10 years. When I found this, I felt like I might actually manage life. Have problems staying asleep since the onset of menopause, and doxepin really helps. Since I am overweight, my doctor will only prescribe for me to take every other night, as he believes it causes weight gain. We disagree on this subject."

9 / 10
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34 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Ver...
  • August 22, 2014

"This medication is the first I've tried for insomnia, and it's better than nothing, but there has to be something better. I have problems staying asleep, and 80% of the time it helps that, and if I wake up for the bathroom or a snack (okay, two snacks), I can fall back asleep quickly. But the weight gain! I had no idea it would cause me to gain so much in a short period, 25 or so pounds in 3 months. I will be looking into Prosom instead and hopefully be able to drop this weight."

6 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • February 5, 2011

Doxepin "I've been on Lunesta for 3 years and would sleep 8 hours exactly every night. Cost went to $125 a month (new insurance) and then switched to Ambien but only slept 4-5 hours a night. Tried Silenor for the first time last night and slept almost 11 hours."

10 / 10
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43 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • January 5, 2011

Doxepin "Just tried Silenor at the 6 mg dose, and it works great for me. I didn't think there was an alternative for treatment of insomnia until my doctor told me. I have been on the others and did not do me any good. Those would include Ambien and Lunesta. I just want to sleep, and now finally I can."

10 / 10
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  • Fas...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 16, 2019

"I found this medication to be the perfect match for my sleeping issues. I fall asleep faster and stay asleep, it's so nice. I've only been taking it for a month and am hopeful it'll last for a long time."

9 / 10
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20 Report
  • Mae...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 5, 2019

"I’m not sure, but has anyone taken this and passed out so hard that they don’t even remember falling asleep? I’m on 25 mg and I fall asleep quickly, but I do wake up early no matter what time I wake up. I can admit some days I’m tired throughout the day, but I’ve never had a medication work so well for my sleep issues."

7 / 10
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23 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 15, 2011

Doxepin "I was given samples of Silenor, and I've been taking it for about two weeks. My problem is not only that I can't sleep for more than 2 hours straight, but it also takes around 3 hours to fall asleep. Anyway, I noticed that I was getting a lot of terrible nightmares right away with the Silenor. As someone who hardly ever even remembers her dreams, the nightmares were quite obviously related to the medicine. Also, the Silenor didn't help me fall asleep/stay asleep at all. My doctor switched me to Ambien, and I'm trying that for the first time tonight. Most of you had a bad experience with Ambien and are loving the Silenor, so I'm not sure how this will work out."

2 / 10
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  • Sar...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 4, 2016

"Prescribed for nightmares and night terrors due to PTSD. Trazodone gave me a horrible body buzz and made me feel like I wasn't in control of my faculties. Worse off, it didn't stop the nightmares, just made it harder to wake from them. Doxepin was prescribed at 25 mg capsule, increasing to 75 mg over a period of a month. Stopped the nightmares and night terrors instantly, with no body buzz. In fact, I don't dream at all anymore, and I'm okay with that. Miracle drug. I was becoming desperate and fought sleep as long as I could so I didn't have nightmares. This saved my sanity."

10 / 10
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29 Report
  • not...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 9, 2020

"I took this for the first time last night, and what an awful night I had, and today, well, I am just a mess. My doctor took me off Xanax as he said it was the worst medication to take and put me on 10 mg Doxepin. I'm not taking it again, I will be calling the doctor Monday."

1 / 10
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  • pep...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 29, 2018

"For chronic insomnia, I ran into an anxiety situation of which my diazepam was not effective. I took this and found (with the D) yes, it worked for both. Yes, groggy and lazy the next day. I never get more than 4-5 hrs sleep anyway. Yes, have gained weight. Male, 56 YO."

5 / 10
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  • Mus...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 12, 2018

"Been taking doxepin 10 mg every night for two months. It helps me sleep, but that’s all I want to do now! It’s near impossible to get up in the morning, and I’m fatigued and irritable all day. I used to be very active, but now everything is a chore and I’ve put on weight. I would recommend this only if nothing else worked for you."

5 / 10
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21 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 28, 2017

"Started off with 25 mgs of Deptran to help with my sleep, anxiety, and mild depression. I slowly increased to 50, and once I hit 75 mgs, I experienced severe sedation during the daytime. I found it hard to get out of bed, to function, and ended up resting on my couch for up to 2 hours per day after getting out of bed! I heard it is good for some people who have trouble staying asleep, but my problem was the exact opposite. I have trouble drifting into sleep. Deptran (Doxepin) increased my anxiety/nervousness, gave me headaches, puffy eyes, tremors, and made me too tired to function properly, and it wasn't even helping me get to sleep! I was on this medication for 3 months, so I gave it a decent try. Still weaning off this medication as I write this."

4 / 10
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  • Lum...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 3, 2016

"Doxepin is the fourth medication that I have been prescribed for my insomnia. Prior to Doxepin, I had taken melatonin (as many insomniacs begin with), Trazodone, and Seroquel. I do not remember any noteworthy effects from the first two, but I was amazed with Seroquel. It worked like a charm once I fell asleep. However, it often took me far too long to fall asleep, and I felt extremely groggy, sometimes for hours, when I woke up. Still, I was very satisfied, having finally found something that brought me some much-needed rest. When I switched doctors, though, I was switched to Doxepin. I have only taken it for a short time, but I cannot praise it highly enough. It takes effect far more quickly and has less grogginess than Seroquel (for me)."

8 / 10
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  • NoN...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 7, 2022

"I was put on 10 mg for insomnia. After taking it for a couple of weeks, I noticed I had heightened anxiety, deep depression, and harmful thoughts. I no longer cared about the things that were important to me before taking the medication. My mood was all over the place."

1 / 10
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  • Kim...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 20, 2021

"I used to take 300 mg of trazodone for insomnia, but it has stopped helping and started getting less than 2 hours of sleep, so the doctor put me on 10 mg of doxepin, and I have gotten less sleep to almost no sleep on this medication. I'm constantly exhausted. No matter what time I take doxepin, I still don't get any sleep. I'm so frustrated with this insomnia! I've taken so many different insomnia meds, and I can't get a break. I never get more than 2 hours of broken sleep, let alone 7 to 8 hours of solid sleep..."

1 / 10
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  • Ton...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 24, 2019

Doxepin "The vivid nightmares and feeling like sleeping all the next day made me not try it a second time. I think it’s possible because I am so sleep deprived. If I took it on a Friday night, I could laze around all weekend and maybe get back to feeling normal."

6 / 10
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23 Report
  • Dro...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 8, 2018

"I've tried many different drugs that supposedly cure insomnia: melatonin, Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Rozerem, Belsomra, Klonopin, various drugs for Parkinson's that have sleepiness side effects, trazodone, Elavil, ... the list goes on and on. The only drug that has helped has been doxepin. Like the other drugs I took before, my body has gotten used to lower doses, and I've had to increase my dose over time to get the same sleepiness effects, but it hasn't caused the same horrendous withdrawal symptoms as some of the other drugs when I've lowered the dose. The downside? Weight gain, drowsiness to the point of lethargy during the daytime, and a distended middle. Not fun, but then I haven't found a better alternative ..."

5 / 10
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19 Report
  • Bri...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 8, 2021

"Been taking doxepin for over a week, 25 mg at night. I feel nothing. Hasn't helped with sleep or made it worse, just nothing. I even opened the capsule just to see if anything was actually inside of it (there was), but I still need lorazepam and sometimes Ambien. I have never slept through the night... ever! Not even as far back as a child that I can remember. I'm so jealous of those people that can lay down and be sound asleep in minutes! I will never have that :("

1 / 10
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  • Sle...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 27, 2015

"I was having trouble falling asleep. I would lay there for hours. Still, even with this drug I can't 'fall' asleep, and still, I lay there for hours. This drug makes my eyes red, watery, and blurry. The next day after taking this med, I am sooo sleepy. I just don't think this is the drug I need."

2 / 10
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36 Report
  • Pos...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 21, 2022

"I take 10 mg at bedtime, and it works well. I no longer wake up in the early morning hours. I don’t feel sleepy during the day. I’m getting seven to eight hours of sleep. The downside, I have experienced a decreased libido since taking the medicine."

9 / 10
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8 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 6, 2011

Doxepin "My sister had a stroke 5 yrs ago and has not been able to sleep since. I read about Silenor on the internet and got her doctor to prescribe it. She has now had her first good night's sleep in almost the last 5 yrs."

10 / 10
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36 Report
  • boy...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 17, 2020

"I tried a 5 mg dose of doxepin by dividing the contents of a 10 mg capsule. No help for my insomnia. Then tried the whole 10 mg. Still no help for my insomnia (didn't make me sleepy at all; I was up all night), but I felt awful the next day with a dry mouth. Strange, because I remember this putting me to sleep back when I used it for depression decades ago (even when I had weaned down to just 10 mg a day). Wonder if the generic is the same potency and quality now? Back to doxylamine (OTC generic Unisom), which works well, but is pricey."

1 / 10
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17 Report
  • Mik...
  • October 9, 2016

"I was put on Doxepin 10 mg for waking up in the middle of the night due to insomnia. Every time I've taken it (about 5), I'm knocked out and sleep heavily for about 9 hours. Then I'm very groggy the next day and sleep off and on. The feeling of being rested and like I actually slept is great. But it's almost too good. I'm going to ask my doctor to reduce it to like 3 mg."

8 / 10
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23 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.