Doxepin and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Urb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2015

Doxepin for Insomnia "This stuff really did the job. It knocked me on my booty and I am used to taking medications that make you sleepy. This kept me sleeping all night long after about 3 weeks of falling asleep and not being able to stay asleep for more than an hour or two. My prescription is for 25 mg and I only took a half. Just to let you know, you may want to try it when you do not have to work the next day. I am not sure if I could have gotten up in time for work this morning if I had to. I do all medications like this slowly and I never start out at my prescribed dosage. I always start out at a lower dosage and go up from there if I need to. I do feel a bit of anxiety today. Not sure if it's the medication, or? I am wide AWAKE now. A bit strange."

• jbg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2016

Doxepin for Insomnia "I was given a sample pack of 3 mg Silenor to help with my inability to stay asleep. I followed the instructions, and unfortunately, it did not seem to work for me. It made me very anxious and agitated during the night. I did sleep but kept waking up. In the morning, I was very groggy and unsteady on my feet. I felt like I had been drugged and had a minor headache all day. I do not think I will take it again, as it is obviously not the drug for me."

• rho...
• October 5, 2009

Doxepin for Insomnia "Sinequan (doxepin) works very well for insomnia, especially since it not only causes drowsiness, but also because it relieves anxiety. A lot of insomnia is caused by overthinking or not being able to stop thinking or fretting. This is a good medicine for that. The only thing is it has more side effects than some of the newer drugs."

• Ins...
• September 4, 2016

Doxepin for Insomnia "Silenor literally saved my life! Before a month ago, I never had sleeping issues, but after recently moving in with my boyfriend in an apartment with neighbors' dogs that kept me up all night, there was a 2-week period where I literally didn't sleep at all. I was starting to feel extremely anxious, depressed, and as if I was losing all control of my life. Silenor is non-addictive, which made me feel more comfortable about taking it. I still woke up in the night some nights, but it put me to sleep no problem. It allowed me to get back on track with my sleep and daily routines."

• RGa...
• October 11, 2020

Doxepin for Insomnia "I was on Ambien for years. It worked great, but at the time I wanted to get off controlled medications. With Silenor, I actually had no problem falling asleep. Couldn't believe it worked. I've tried about every OTC sleep aid and one non-controlled sleep aid (Belsomra). OTCs did nothing, and the Belsomra I threw in the trash after the first night taking it. I only recommend it if you like feeling drugged and anxious all night. Also, it gave me extreme light sensitivity where I couldn't look at my nightlight. So, in all, Silenor was great to help me sleep."

• Buf...
• June 23, 2014

For Anxiety "My doctor prescribed me Doxepin 10 mg for depression, anxiety, and insomnia. So far so good, calms me down wonderfully when my three kids or my husband cause me to have an anxiety attack, and is working well with my depression. Only things it isn't doing too much for my insomnia, I still go to bed at about 9 pm and fall asleep around 2:30-3:00 am. I have also taken Lexapro, which worsened my depression, Zoloft just made me feel like a zombie or like I was wired out of my mind, and Prozac, which worked great on me, but since I have insomnia my doctor gave me Doxepin."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2010

For Anxiety "I have been taking Doxepin for 26 years to treat depression and acute anxiety. It has worked well and enabled me to feel normal and lead a normal life. Recently, though, it has stopped working as well, and I am having panic attacks and anxiety again. I think I have become immune to it because of taking it for so long. Would like to switch to a newer drug, but my doctor is not keen to swap me."

• met...
• September 17, 2016

For Anxiety "This drug was terrible. I would take it at night and fall right to sleep, and when I got up in the morning, I'm completely exhausted and dizzy. My balance is off and I feel like I'm in a daze. I was extremely irritable. The entire day I was depressed and in a very, very bad mood. Everything bothered me. My anxiety was terrible. Tremors in my hands and just feeling kind of loopy. Nightmares when sleeping. This drug did nothing of any benefit for me. I was taking it to help with my social anxiety and panic attacks."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2016

For Depression "My sister took doxepin, and it had a horrible reaction... anxiety, changed her personality, sleeplessness... she told her doctor, so he increased the dose... she hadn't slept in 3 days, so she took Xanax to sleep... she died that night... 6/26/2016... she was 28 years old."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2010

Doxepin for Insomnia "I took Lunesta only for a few days because it gave me an unpleasant taste. It was really bad. Then I switched to Ambien. It was better than Lunesta, but there was a residual effect that the medicine made me irritable and anxious the next morning. My doctor gave me Silenor. It is better than Ambien CR. I do not feel anxious or irritable the next morning and I can sleep 8 hours. The only side effect, though very minor, is that it makes me a little sluggish. But overall, Silenor is better than Ambien CR."

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

For Insomnia "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."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2016

For Insomnia "My doctor prescribed Doxepin 45 mg 'at bedtime' to help me move my sleep cycle back to a normal time - it had gradually slipped later and later until I wasn't getting sleepy until 4-6 a.m. My experience is that Doxepin is useless for this purpose (confirmed by my pharmacist) - it does not help me fall asleep at all, but it will keep me asleep for much longer, which unfortunately is just reinforcing my shifted sleep cycle. In addition, I've had lots of side effects, ranging from a mild headache to migraine halos, irritability, anxiety, and worst of all, a 20-point rise in the first blood glucose reading after waking. If your problem is staying asleep, this will probably help, but if your problem is falling asleep, it's pretty useless."

• Mou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2016

For Insomnia "My doc prescribed 40 mg at bedtime to shift my sleep cycle. History of acute anxiety attacks w/ tachycardia and essential tremor. First dose I felt agitated, anxious, and my heart rate went up to 160. It did not help me fall asleep any earlier, next day blurred vision and 'migraine aura.' Things went downhill from there. My doctor said to continue it for at least 4 weeks and the side effects would go away. They did not - things continued to worsen. The tremor increased to where I could not use the computer, headaches got worse, anxiety increased, I became irritable and angry, and my blood sugar went through the roof. After 5 weeks I threw it away - blood sugar still high and tremor still worse after quitting a month ago."

• Bba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2018

For Anxiety "I took this for anxiety and slept great, but the next day I kept having blood pressure drops and passed out while driving and had to call into work for the next two days to recover. I was passing out from blood pressure drops over and over and having random anxiety attacks over and over for 24 hours. It was so, so, so horrible. I've never had blood pressure issues or passed out or anxiety to that level until I took this."

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2018

For Insomnia "I was fine for a few hours, then things became bad. Severe anxiety attack, I had snake hallucinations, puked a bit, ringing head, very tired, emotionally sunk into a gloomy depression, and bloating with stomach pain the next day, plus instant stomach weight gain. Never again for me."

• Cav...
• April 30, 2018

Doxepin for Insomnia "I've been using Silenor on and off for about 6 months now. I haven't taken it every night; I find what works best is to cycle it on for 2-3 days, with 2 days off where I supplement melatonin (3 mg to 5 mg) on the days off if needed. I initially started using melatonin 3 mg, but I found I was waking up about 1-2 hours into the night with mini panic attacks and hallucinating; but once the anxiety settles and I recognize I'm hallucinating (within a couple minutes), the effect wears off and I am able to return to deep sleep for the remainder of the night. I now cut the dose in half (1.5 mg) and I've noticed I don't experience the anxiety/hallucinations anymore. I have also noticed that the morning brain fog/temporary memory loss does not bother me nearly as much with the half dose. As for the sleep; once I am able to fall asleep, it usually keeps me there. If you wake up, it's only for small intermittent periods, which is minor compared to what I used to experience when I wasn't using the medication."

• can...
• December 30, 2011

For Insomnia "I took this as prescribed (3 hours after eating, already in bed). It took me 90 minutes to go to sleep. I woke up 2 hours later and stayed up until 7 a.m. in the morning (5 hours). I've got to have some strange biochemistry going on - Ambien gave me an anxiety attack and kept me up too. Both medicines seemed to depress my breathing rhythm."

• pss...
• March 22, 2011

Doxepin for Insomnia "I have been using Silenor for the past two to three weeks. I haven't noticed any increase in the amount I have been sleeping at all. As with most patients, my problem is not with falling asleep, but rather with staying asleep (sleep maintenance). I still seem to wake up every hour after 1 a.m. However, for some reason during the night, since I have started taking the Silenor, I am less anxious than I had been about the lack of sleep, so maybe that's something."

• Sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2016

For Insomnia "I took this medicine at 11 p.m., asleep a little after midnight, and woke at 3:20 a.m. I have been awake since then, it is now 4:18, and I still cannot fall back asleep! The first night I took it, it did the same thing plus a side of anxiety attacks. Thought I'd give it a try again, but nope, no more of this! Smh!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2021

For Insomnia "I had problems falling asleep and staying asleep, and because of the sleep problem, I had anxiety and depression, but after taking doxepin, all went away. I am taking the 50 mg capsules when I am in bed. Even if you feel unrelaxed, if you are in bed, wait 10 to 15 minutes, and then take it. You also have to have at least 7-8 hours for sleep. I took this medication for two years. My confidence increased, and my face became younger-looking. My happiness, my face, and my behavior tremendously changed. Before taking this medication, some people were mean because I was cowardly and nervous, but now I am in a very good situation. I have been taking this medication for 2 years. My concern is if I stop it, will I still feel healthy? Is my sleep problem permanently gone, or will it come back?"

• Nee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2021

For Insomnia "I've taken 6 mg Doxepin twice to deal with my maintenance insomnia, and my experience hasn't been great. It seems to increase my anxiety—in fact, I awake after about 2.5 hrs with an overwhelming sense of fear and was sweating profusely, had tremors and confusion. It also leaves me feeling a strange anxiety tension in my body for at least 24 hrs and has significant effects on my short-term memory. When I was sleeping, it seemed to do a pretty good job. I got six hours total. But it's not worth the side effects I experience, and I will not take it again."

• man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For Depression "This stuff is garbage. Woke up hyper and with shortness of breath. I thought this med was supposed to make me sleep??? Just a horrible med!!! All these side effects listed too, be careful!! I'm better off with my anxiety and sleeplessness."

• spe...
• February 11, 2014

For Anxiety "Yes, Doxepin mixed with Xanax is a nightmare. Too many adverse reactions... increased anxiety, severe agitation, and frustration. It's like nothing can go quick enough for you."

• Eva...
• January 28, 2020

For Insomnia "Absolutely horrible. Made me have anxiety and hideous dark thoughts."

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2016

Doxepin for Insomnia "Made me extremely agitated and nervous during the night, very disappointed and actually scared after taking it. Very expensive as well."