Doxepin and Depression: What Users Say

• M H...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2017

Doxepin for Insomnia "Used to take Ambien, but side effects were starting to drive me nuts. Nightmares, almost depressed when waking up. Silenor really saved me. Incredible feeling, like normal sleep. No side effects at all in my case. I'm surprised it's not more promoted."

• blh...
• May 25, 2017

Doxepin for Insomnia "I was prescribed 3 mg tablets for insomnia. The first night, I took one about 45 minutes before bedtime and did not find it helped me sleep at all. However, I was extremely groggy the next morning and ended up back in bed shortly after lunch, sleeping for almost 2 hours. I tried it two more times, taking it earlier each time, but the effect was the same: it takes too long to work and leaves me groggy and unable to function the next day. I will not be taking it anymore."

• 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."

• GDa...
• May 28, 2018

Doxepin for Insomnia "I was prescribed Silenor for insomnia, which I battled with for 3 years. I was taking a high dose of Melatonin to sleep, but that stopped working when I was going through a stressful period. Took 3 mg of Silenor the first night. Although I slept 5-6 hours, I felt horrible the next day. I felt like crying all day. I increased the dose to 4.5 mg and was able to get 7 hours of sleep, but the negative mood became more prominent during the day. I was depressed and miserable. I stuck with it for 2 weeks, but my mood was getting worse. I couldn't keep on taking it. I don't know if these are only initial side effects that will go away after a month or so, but I personally could not handle the depressive symptoms (major) it gave me, so I decided to stop it after 2 weeks only. I felt better immediately, even though I am still struggling with sleep... I have to see my doctor and try Trazodone."

• GDa...
• May 28, 2018

Doxepin for Insomnia "I was prescribed Silenor for insomnia, which I battled with for 3 years. I was taking a high dose of Melatonin to sleep, but that stopped working when I was going through a stressful period. Took 3 mg of Silenor the first night. Although I slept 5-6 hours, I felt horrible the next day. I felt like crying all day. I increased the dose to 4.5 mg and was able to get 7 hours of sleep, but the negative mood became more prominent during the day. I was depressed and miserable. I stuck with it for 2 weeks, but my mood was getting worse. I couldn't keep on taking it. I don't know if these are only initial side effects that will go away after a month or so, but I personally could not handle the depressive symptoms (major) it gave me, so I decided to stop it after 2 weeks only. I felt better immediately, even though I am still struggling with sleep... I have to see my doctor and try Trazodone."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Lef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2019

For Depression "One year ago, I had L2L3L4 screwed together. I was told there is no reason why I should not get out of bed and do 200 sit-ups a day. Well, after adding that to my regular workout for two and a half years, one morning I got done working out and had to go right into the ER and get operated on and off work for 6 months. I was so depressed, my abs were so much to me. They put me on everything, nothing worked. I was so depressed. After it was all said and done, the doctor said all I could do was planks and running for my core. I thought I would try Silenor. After going over all the meds I had, I can do regular things, but that's it for abs. YES!! Silenor works! I get up in the morning and feel like a million bucks! Hope this works for all."

• Anonymous
• August 18, 2011

Doxepin for Insomnia "I use Silenor only 2 times a week, I alternate it with Ambien. Silenor allows me to sleep the full 7-8 hours but leaves me useless the next day. So I take it when I don't have to work the next day. But oh, I love the sleep I get with Silenor! Ambien allows me to fall asleep and sporadically allows me to stay asleep."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Urticaria "Was prescribed doxepin 10 mg taken at night for hives and angioedema. I had developed these symptoms after having my physical, for which I was prescribed amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Immediately after I started the doxepin, I noticed that I was extremely groggy and out of it by the time I woke up, and clearly it did not help with the itching because I was just as itchy when I woke up, if not more, because that is what woke me up. I felt myself itching and scratching in my sleep and thought I was dreaming, but I wasn't. Made me feel depressed, like no one in the world liked me, gave me nightmares, and I would randomly start crying for no reason. May work for some, but I'll admit, I'd rather be itchy than depressed, seeing as I do not suffer from depression. Do your research on these meds before taking them, may cause more issues than what you had to begin with. I have been spending tons of money on all these antihistamines since 4/8/19 with no cause for the allergic reactions. Just irritating!"

• sma...
• February 27, 2018

For Insomnia "I've waited a long time to post this review because I really wanted to like this drug and given a fair trial, but I've been on various doses ranging from 3 mg to 50 mg over the last three years, and I have to say that I don't like the drug at all. I've been using it for insomnia, and sometimes it works well, and other times it doesn't work at all. And every time I reach a certain dose that I think is working, after a few weeks or months, I have to raise the dose again. My main complaint about this drug is the side effects. Generally speaking, it has helped to put me to sleep, but at a great price. It makes me dopey, hungover, feel like sleeping all day long; has given me mental confusion, blurred vision, and even on lower doses like 10 mg or 25 mg, it makes me more depressed because it makes me feel low, tired, doped up. I'm trying to get off it. I would recommend it to other people for short-term use."

• Rox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2021

For Insomnia "I felt tired and sad the next day after 6 mg. I usually love mornings, but doxepin impacted that with me feeling more lethargic and having difficulty getting up. I also felt impatient and aggravation. I threw the pills out this morning after trying them for 3 months intermittently. Onto the next. Going to try more natural approaches."

• 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?"

• QBa...
• January 25, 2020

For Anxiety "Today is day one. Took my first dose of Doxepin 25 mg last night. Woke up feeling very, very depressed and VERY angry. I am ready to punch someone in the face, and I haven’t even left my house yet today. I was just taking this for insomnia, but I am stopping this medication and calling my doctor because I can’t be cursing people out, or punching them, or being angry for no reason. I screamed at and hung up on my boyfriend about an hour ago when he didn’t even do anything at all except interrupt me to remind me of something. Thank goodness he is understanding about what is going on and isn’t upset. Not to mention my thoughts are clustered, and I only slept for 4 hours last night. So no, this stuff did not help me at all. It really messed me up. I’d rate this medication a NEGATIVE 10 if that were possible, but unfortunately this website makes me choose between 1 and 10 only, so I was forced to choose 1."

• Pad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2021

For Insomnia "My psych prescribed doxepin because I have trouble staying asleep. I tried the 25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg doses, and it STILL doesn’t work. The only thing it has done is made me gain nearly 10 pounds in a week and made my brain feel like I’m trapped in some padded cell where I can’t feel human emotions anymore or think at all. This feels like a mental straitjacket, and I am NOT happy about the terrible mental effects of a drug I’ve been prescribed for insomnia. NOT WORTH IT. If you care about your brain functioning properly every day. Trust me, the effects of insomnia are better than sleeping a few hours more, STILL waking up every hour or so, and feeling zombified in the morning. I lost all trust in my psychiatrist for prescribing me this terrible pill. Still don’t feel like myself..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2018

Doxepin for Insomnia "Worst drug ever. Brain fog for days after. Sent me into deep depression from one dose. Extremely expensive for a very old drug. NEVER AGAIN."

• Nic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 10, 2020

For Depression "Doxepin is a fabulous thing. It's been discontinued, and I fear for my overall health. This took the edge off my fibromyalgia pain, insomnia, and depression."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2015

For Urticaria "Very effective for treating urticaria, almost completely eliminated my hives. Had to come off because doxepin caused major depression. Within three days of stopping doxepin, my depression subsided."