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Doxylamine and Headaches: What Users Say

Brand names: Unisom SleepTabs, Sleep Aid, Nighttime Sleepaid

Headaches: mentioned by 12 users (5.1%)

Based on user experiences from 236 Doxylamine reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

drowsiness 24.6%
anxiety 5.5%
dizziness 5.5%
headaches 5.1%
tiredness 4.7%
dry mouth 3.8%
nausea 3.0%
restless leg syndrome 3.0%
insomnia 2.5%
irritability 2.5%

Reviews for Doxylamine

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • 3rd...
  • January 15, 2020

Doxylamine for Insomnia "I have tried melatonin (3 mg) to help sleep during the day, as I work 3rd shift, but it doesn't work as well as I'd like. So, I figured I would give Unisom a try. My head feels like a pressurized can ready to explode, headache, diarrhea, a slight labored breathing/weight on chest feeling, and completely lethargic. Missed work as a result. Won't be taking this again."

2 / 10
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48 Report
  • Deb...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 12, 2019

Doxylamine for Insomnia "Started taking doxylamine succinate (aka Unisom) for occasional sleeplessness about 6 weeks ago. I'm a 59-year-old woman, healthy, menopausal. Box says the dose is 25 mg. I started with 12.5 mg because I'm sensitive to most meds. It worked VERY well. I fell asleep fast and stayed asleep, no issues except maybe a mild drowsiness feeling during the day here or there. Fast forward to last week, I'm experiencing dizziness, mild balance issues, headache. Don't know if it's because I took it 3-4 days in a row sometimes and stopped for a day or two? I just know it's a bummer because it works, but this stupid dizziness and balance thing is hanging on into day 2, and I don't want to take it anymore because of that. They say it's 'not habit-forming.' I think my body got used to it and I'm 'withdrawing.'"

10 / 10
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39 Report
  • Pot...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 23, 2019

For Insomnia "I took one 25 mg doxylamine pill, and it knocked me out, made me hungry first. I woke up a few times during the night and felt very drugged. I had 9 hours before I had to wake up, didn't feel like it was enough, I was very groggy for several hours. I tried half the pill, still too much. I take a quarter of the 25 mg pill, and it works well, oftentimes even less than that. I find I need to take it at least 7 hours before my alarm goes off. After 15 min awake, I am alert and ready to go. I find it hard to sleep without but have been taking it for a few months like this now and find I haven't needed more. Sometimes there is a headache, but I don't know if it can be attributed to the pill."

10 / 10
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20 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • dav...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 11, 2022

For Insomnia "After a few nights of waking really early and not being able to get back to sleep, I was given these from the pharmacist. A very traumatic experience followed. Paranoia, feeling of being disconnected from reality, feeling physically weird, very little sleep, headache, dry mouth. Truly awful experience."

1 / 10
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9 Report
  • Sam...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 15, 2015

For Insomnia "My OB recommended this for my insomnia/racing thoughts at night in pregnancy. Took 25 mg and was out within 30 minutes and tired the next day. Cut down to 1/2 a pill and was much better. Haven't gotten a full night's sleep in 6 months and was losing my mind, it completely fixed that. I will say that if I don't drink lots of water with it, I get terrible headaches, but as long as I stay hydrated and give myself 8 hours to sleep, I am ready and wake up right away with my alarm in the best mood I've had since the pregnancy started."

10 / 10
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21 Report

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  • MRC...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 26, 2018

Doxylamine for Insomnia "Heard about this from a friend. It works well. I usually wake up a few times during the night but slept like a baby when I took one gel tablet. The only thing is that the following day I would be very cranky and had a massive headache. Will not be taking this anymore!"

4 / 10
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17 Report
  • Pre...
  • August 11, 2015

Doxylamine for Insomnia "I'm pregnant and my doctor recommended I take Unisom and B6 at night for my morning sickness and nausea. When I took it, I easily fell asleep, but I could not sleep through the night, I would wake up at least 3-4 times. I woke up irritable (more than normal for being pregnant), and it also triggered my migraines. Almost every time I took this, I would get really bad headaches."

2 / 10
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28 Report
  • Hbl...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 24, 2021

Doxylamine for Insomnia "So I am 24 weeks with my 2nd baby, and my bed has become very uncomfortable. I wake up multiple times, tossing and turning. My doctor told me I can take these tablets. The only thing I would say is, if you haven't taken them before, take half a dose. I took the whole dose and went to sleep, woke up late, and ended up taking a 5-hour nap and am still tired, with a minor headache as well."

9 / 10
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5 Report
  • Fox...
  • July 6, 2015

For Insomnia "I took 25 mg of Doxylamine for the first time, only for one night so far. I took it at 8:30 pm, it put me to sleep quickly. I did wake up a couple of times during the night. Like most of the reviews, I woke up feeling very tired, unable to push myself out of bed at normal time. I had a slight headache, and my legs are hurting from it. Feeling very tired at the moment. I do hope it wears off soon."

7 / 10
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11 Report
  • Amp...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 17, 2022

Doxylamine for Insomnia "I’ve been taking Unisom Sleep Gels for 3 to 4 years every night. I was first suggested them by my OB/GYN while I was pregnant for nausea and for insomnia. I have no side effects while taking it. When I try to stop, I get serious nausea, cold sweats, and headaches, it’s like really bad."

7 / 10
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3 Report
  • Hei...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 31, 2021

For Insomnia "I suffer from insomnia. However, taking only a quarter of a Restavit about a half hour before sleep and listening to some meditation music for about 10 mins during that time gives me an amazing sleep for about 5 hours. I don’t wake up heavy-headed and feel wonderful the next day. Very happy with Restavit."

10 / 10
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0 Report
  • Kal...
  • March 15, 2015

Doxylamine for Insomnia "I took 1 50 mg tablet of Unisom; it didn't work, so I took another one. I fell asleep 4 hours later, and when I woke up, I had the worst headache of my life and a bad taste in my mouth for a whole week straight."

1 / 10
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27 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.