Doxepin and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

For Insomnia "I was put on many different sleep medications before doxepin, and nothing worked for how bad my insomnia is. My doctor had to put me on 30 mg of it just to get it to work at all. But once we got the dosage right, it works perfectly. Puts me to sleep in 10 to 15 minutes. Other people freak out with my high dosage, but if it works, it works. The only downside for me was when I take it, I have to sleep for 8 hours or more, my body literally will not wake up otherwise. Whenever I did manage to wake myself up before 8 hours, I always ended up falling asleep while I was doing something."

• 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."

• Bod...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2016

For Insomnia "I take about 10 milligrams of Doxaprin about four nights a week. I've been doing this for about 8 months now. I don't have trouble falling asleep, I have trouble staying asleep, and Doxaprin keeps me asleep. I now sleep like a baby on this 4 nights. I don't really build a tolerance up to it like I did with Xanax. I find virtually no side effects other than I don't want to get out of bed in the morning, but a cup of coffee solves that. Unless there are some long-term side effects I don't know about, I can't say anything negative about this substance. Good luck."

• mil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2017

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Doxepin for anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I took it last night and slept great, but this AM I could NOT open my eyes, and all day I have been beyond drowsy, even spaced out and exhausted. I took 10 mg at bedtime last night. I am going to try taking it at dinnertime tonight around 7 pm. I am glad I slept great, but I cannot function on this exhaustion. Please tell me these side effects go away. Also, could one pill do all this? Last night was the first time I tried this :-(. Thanks"

• Lov...
• May 9, 2016

For Urticaria "I've been taking 10 mg for several months now for chronic itching. It has helped a lot, although it has not gone away. My doctor told me it will take time, but eventually, it will get better. It makes me very drowsy, but I've gotten used to it now."

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

For Insomnia "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."

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

For Insomnia "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)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2017

For Insomnia "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."

• Dro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2018

For Insomnia "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 ..."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2016

For Insomnia "I was given Doxepin 50 mg to help me sleep. It knocked me out - this is the zombie apocalypse of sleep meds. It worked very well, but kept working all the next day. I slept about 17 hours and felt extremely groggy when I got up. I wouldn't recommend it if you just have trouble falling to sleep. I need something milder so I can function the next day."

• Mik...
• October 9, 2016

For Insomnia "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."

• Ben...
• May 18, 2015

For Insomnia "This made me so tired and drugged feeling I could barely wake up! It was terrible! I hate insomnia, but this was ridiculous! This stuff is not a solution! Unless all you do is sleep. So frustrated! Thought this was the one!"

• Rob...
• November 15, 2016

Doxepin for Insomnia "I have had severe insomnia for about 3 years. My physician gave me 2 sample packs of 6 mg Silenor. I cut them in half to take 3 mg as needed. They worked wonderfully, and I finally got several good nights of sleep without the groggy feeling in the morning. After the samples were gone, I got my Rx filled and found out my insurance will not cover it. After having been awake for 36 hours straight, out of desperation, I paid an arm and a leg for the Silenor. The first tablet of the Rx worked, but that's it. I increased to taking 6 mg, and it still didn't work. Still no sleep. I have given up on Silenor and have gone back to a different insomnia Rx that works sometimes, but at least my insurance covers it, it only costs me $5."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2010

Doxepin for Insomnia "I took Silenor 6 mg and slept like a rock, but had a terrible time getting going the next morning. Although I drank coffee, I still felt groggy and in a light daze well past noon. Going to try cutting it in half to 3 mg and see if it works without the grogginess."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2010

Doxepin for Insomnia "I took Silenor 6 mg and slept like a rock, but had a terrible time getting going the next morning. Although I drank coffee, I still felt groggy and in a light daze well past noon. Going to try cutting it in half to 3 mg and see if it works without the grogginess."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2025

"I am on 25 mg of Doxepin, along with Lamictal, Prozac, and clonazepam as needed. This was a recent addition about 3 months ago because I would wake up early with extreme anxiety. While I do fall asleep after about a half hour of taking it at bedtime and stay asleep all night, I wake up tired and groggy most of the next day. I cannot function without having to take a nap a few hours later and feel like I have wasted my day. My psychiatrist says I have tried every alternative, so Doxepin is it. I have also gained weight, which is not good as I have a significant amount to lose."

• 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!"

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2022

For Insomnia "Doxepin (10 mg) worked the first time I took it. It worked too well, and I was groggy all day when I woke up. I decided to skip a day because I was still groggy. After I tried Doxepin again, it did nothing. It no longer works after only taking it once. Really weird. It doesn't put me to sleep, and it doesn't keep me asleep. In fact, I keep waking up repeatedly throughout the night. What a shame, I'm back to insomnia again."

• JCo...
• July 16, 2021

For Anxiety "Before, I was taking amitriptyline for depression/anxiety, and it worked in just 2 weeks. I was completely depression/anxiety-free for the first time in 7 years. I didn't want to stop taking amitriptyline as it worked WAY better than the countless SSRIs I tried in the past, but sadly, amitriptyline raised my resting heart rate way too high (a common side effect of amitriptyline). So I switched to doxepin, which I hoped would be similar to amitriptyline, as doxepin is also an older TCA type of antidepressant, but doxepin for me was a disaster. It gave me really bad nightmares and extreme vivid dreams. It also caused me to have a headache almost all the time I was taking it. It also caused a heavy sedation feeling when taking each tablet (I took 50 mg each night), and all that aside, it didn't work well enough on my depression/anxiety. I have switched to citalopram now, and those side effects have gone, and I'm doing okay, so will stick with citalopram. Doxepin suits some people, so good luck if you try it."

• 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."

• Ins...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2018

For Insomnia "I've been struggling with insomnia for over 8 years. I've taken every drug out there used to treat insomnia, and nothing has worked. Doxepin made me feel like I got hit by a truck and didn't even help me sleep! I stopped taking it after a week because I could not handle the mood swings (I'm also bipolar), grogginess, and fatigue. Not sure if it's related or not, but the week I took Doxepin, I gained almost 10 lbs!"

• Doe...
• May 21, 2018

For Urticaria "Had hives daily for 6 weeks straight, took doxepin 25 mg and they were gone the next day. I was on steroids that worked good too, but am off them now. It's been a week without one hive. It works, but I agree with side effects. Groggy, sometimes into late morning. I feel like I'm a couple seconds behind on my actions."

• ZZZ...
• June 24, 2018

For Insomnia "I've used doxepin for years to make me drowsy. I take 2 ml (20 mg) of liquid an hour before lights-out, then I take triazolam (Halcion) 30 minutes before lights-out. A pharmacist suggested that the liquid would work more quickly if I put it into my mouth with the eyedropper (not diluted) and hold it there for a little while. He also suggested chewing the triazolam tablet -- again, for faster effect. Doxepin alone, at least at that dose, isn't enough to put me asleep by itself. I always wake up four or five hours after lights out, but by then I don't feel noticeably groggy. I take a second triazolam and get 8 hours of sleep total. The next day, I feel rested and definitely not groggy."

• Anonymous
• September 25, 2011

For Insomnia "I've tried various medicine options. I take 10-20 mg of generic doxepin per night now. I still wake up during the night, but I fall back asleep much easier than before. I get 5-6 hours of good, solid sleep per night, which is great for me. The only time I have problems with drowsiness the next day is after I take 20 mg at night."

• Ade...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2018

For Urticaria "I was prescribed Doxepin for relief of an itchy skin condition. I suppose you could say it temporarily relieved the itch because I was completely unconscious for the next 12 hours and unaware of everything, itchy and otherwise. I was groggy and zombie-like for the next 12 hours, and occasionally had to reach for walls or furniture to keep from falling over. I feel like I lost a day of my life. Verdict: NOPE."