Doxepin and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• zan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 8, 2014

Doxepin for Insomnia "For as long as I can remember, I have had issues with falling asleep and remaining asleep. This occurred in childhood also. It seems to be a family trait. However, my doctor prescribed Silenor and what a difference this pill makes! To have always had problems sleeping and then suddenly, a pill changes the problem. Over the years I have taken Lunesta, Ambien, Tylenol PM, Melatonin, Benadryl... all stopped working within a period of 3-5 months. Not so with Silenor. I read some posts stating that Silenor has caused weight gain. I have not noticed such, but I do not keep a weight scale in my house. For the present, I will only say that for a chronic lifetime insomniac, I wish that I had this pill 44 years ago. Age now 49."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2013

Doxepin for Insomnia "This medicine worked beautifully for me; I have no complaints. But when my insurance changed and I couldn't take it any longer, I had to try and go without it. I didn't realize that it had been the source of my weight gain and why I couldn't lose the weight no matter what I tried. After stopping taking it I dropped 10 lbs almost immediately WHILE I WAS ON SPRING BREAK and eating way more than usual and not working out 4 times a week as usual. I'm glad I took it and that it helped me, but I just wanted to share this experience so that others won't mistakenly think that age was causing them to gain weight and not lose it no matter what they tried."

• Pmi...
• April 23, 2021

For Anxiety "I’m taking 10mg doxepin in the evening. This is an older medicine that came out in 1969. This means that it has been around a long time and so what side effects there are are largely known by now. I opted for the 10mg since 3mg & 6mg (for insomnia) are expensive. I have suffered with anxiety & insomnia for a few years now. The higher mg’s (150mg-300mg) target areas of the brain affected by depression and anxiety (per MD). The 10mg has helped both with my insomnia & anxiety. I have taken many different medicines to deal with my anxiety. I was having insomnia with Celexa & had to take Xanax to deal with it, it worked aside from insomnia. I have struggled for a long time to find something that actually works & I am grateful that I am able to sleep & be free of anxiety! I read the reviews on doxepin prior to taking it & saw several that said it caused them to gain weight. This has not been my experience. I’ve had no side effects &, best of all, I’ve gotten my life back."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2020

For Insomnia "Didn’t work well for anxiety/depression or insomnia; but worked very well to make me fat (20-pound weight gain) and triglycerides went quite high. Off now. Weight down. Triglycerides went back to normal. Caused metabolic syndrome?"

• Can...
• November 14, 2014

Doxepin for Insomnia "I've been on Ambien and it was too strong. It gave me brain fog the next day. Taking half a pill helped but I did not like that it was habit-forming. Got some samples of Silenor 3mg and it helped keep me sleeping or if I woke up I would go back to sleep. I only take half a pill with an 8 oz glass of water and that does the trick. It also helps to use earplugs to keep out noise. I've noticed that some people complain of weight gain. I can't imagine how that could happen if you are sleeping. But if I'm awake and nibbling in the middle of the night, unless I up my exercise it's to be expected."

• jmm...
• May 23, 2013

For Insomnia "This medication knocked me out every night, so it was great to catch up on years of sleep debt. Overall, a very positive experience. However, like other users, I slowly gained 10-20 pounds over the course of taking doxepin. I stopped taking it in the last couple of months, and suddenly, my appetite significantly decreased and weight just started dropping off. I had no idea that the medication caused this increased appetite/weight gain. Honestly, I thought I was just growing older and my metabolism was changing. I'm glad I took this medication for insomnia, and also that the side effect of weight gain faded away as soon as I stopped taking it. Overall, the value of the sleep I gained far outweighed the con of the weight I gained."

• Kry...
• December 19, 2013

For Insomnia "I have taken doxepin every day for 29 years. I started taking 75 to 150 mg for depression, but once the depression lifted, I continued taking 10-25 mg a day for insomnia. It has been a lifesaver for me as, since my teens, I have not been able to sleep without a sleep aid, over-the-counter, prescription. Doxepin allows me to fall asleep and stay asleep for 6-8 hours. When I started taking it I gained 10 lbs. in a week and have never lost it. I have dry mouth, but that is an inconvenience that I am willing to put with. I tried to wean myself off once, about 10 years ago, but felt very bad flu-like symptoms so I started taking them again. In the past 5 years so 10mg doesn't always do the job and so I often take 20 mg."

• Pos...
• April 24, 2014

For Insomnia "Developed acute insomnia immediately following a bad concussion. I would doze off, but would wake up within 30 minutes, unable to fall back asleep for hours at a stretch. Tried several sleeping medications (off-label use of trazodone, Ambien, melatonin, OTC sleep aids) with no success for several weeks and was getting desperate. A mere 3 mg of doxepin saved my life. I slept for six straight hours the first night and it only got better and better. I take 3 mg around 9 PM, sleep from 11 PM to 6 AM very reliably, and have few side effects besides a small amount of weight gain (about five pounds in my first two weeks) and slight drowsiness in the mornings and mid-afternoons. I'm so grateful to have my sleep back."

• Ols...
• February 9, 2015

For Insomnia "Prescribed doxepin in detox/rehab after trazodone did not work well. 25 mg of doxepin works really well for me. 120 lb female, age 26. Helps with anxiety and keeps me asleep even if I wake up to pee or something. I have gained some weight, but I can't attribute it to the doxepin since I am only two months clean off opiates. But for addicts, definitely give it a try because it worked wonders for me. Non-habit forming too."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2014

For Insomnia "First night on 10 mg didn't fall asleep until 5:15 AM after 4 AM popcorn binge. Woke up about 7:30 AM. Same on next 3 nights with middle-of-the-night coffee cake, chocolates, and even a couple of frozen dinners. Dr. upped to 20 mg. Same result. Hardly any sleep, night snacking, and started eating more during the day. People have commented about rapid weight gain. They're right. I gained 8 lbs. the first week! My weight has been pretty consistent by 2-3 lbs. for years. Going back to Ambien!"

• BBP...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 2, 2017

For Anxiety "Started on Doxepin 100 mg in January 2017 due to debilitating GAD and panic attacks. I was miserable. Ten minutes after waking up, the panic attacks would start. I quit going out in public as much as possible. At night, I couldn't shut my mind off, which exacerbated my insomnia. I was taking more Xanax than prescribed to try to get through the day. I specifically asked my psych for this based on reviews. Helped right away with sleep (with no next-day grogginess for me), and after about a week, started putting the brakes on my anxiety. Slowly noticed I was getting parts of my life back. It served its purpose and pretty darn well, but in ten months, I gained 30 lbs and kept gaining. Due to the ongoing weight gain, I switched to gabapentin instead."

• msk...
• April 17, 2016

For Insomnia "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."

• Ver...
• August 22, 2014

For Insomnia "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."

• Wor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2016

For Depression "I was given Silenor 3 mg at the start to help me stay asleep and also to help with my anxiety and very mild depression. The doxepin in this medication is an antidepressant. My first try of it, I felt drunk when I woke up at 3 a.m., and I passed right back to sleep. I noticed within a week I felt a bit happier, and my anxiety has lessened. I feel happier as well. So the doctor is keeping me on them for a while. It has been almost a year taking Silenor. There was a slight weight gain over that period of time, 10 lbs over the whole 10 months. I didn't take an entire week of the pills a few months back, and boy did I notice. They say non-addictive, but I felt sad and depressed. Right back where I was before taking them."

• 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."

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

For Insomnia "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."

• Sar...
• November 19, 2014

For Urticaria "I am a 34-year-old female. I am on Doxepin to help me sleep. I have had severe eczema for years - nothing helps except prednisone (on that now all the time too), but I couldn't sleep due to constant scratching. Slowly increased Doxepin until I'm now at 100 mg taken at night (sometimes depending on how tired I am, I only take 50-75 mg), but it's my miracle pill. Puts me to sleep (almost instantly) and 99% of the time I'm not tired or groggy in the morning. I have heard, however, there is a possibility of weight gain and thinning hair, at which both possibilities would cause me to look for a different medication."

• 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 ..."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2012

For Insomnia "Doxepin was prescribed to me by my neurologist as an adjunct therapy with Topamax for migraine prevention. I have only been on this for four months; two severe migraines! One trigger is lack of sleep. I have terrible insomnia. And if I do sleep, I sleepwalk. Doxepin keeps me calm, migraine-free, asleep, and most of all, I could have done without the weight gain."

• 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."

• Dox...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2023

For Insomnia "Best sleep medication I've used for insomnia, however, I wish my prescriber had informed me about the weight gain. I never would have used it. I went from 125 lbs to 155 lbs in 18 months. I couldn't figure out what was causing this, along with severe bloating, so I'm now weaning myself off because you can't just stop taking it, you'll go through withdrawals, and it also makes it harder, especially for women, to lose the weight. Ugh, everyone is different, but I wouldn't recommend this drug!"

• NBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2019

For Depression "I started doxepin after being addicted to sleeping pills and painkillers and almost overdosing. I had insomnia, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. It definitely saved my life when I needed it to, but I gained 15 pounds, am easily irritated/angry, and don't feel like myself anymore. I couldn't get a refill for 2 weeks, and I understand why you're not supposed to stop taking it suddenly because I couldn't get out of bed and wouldn't speak to anyone for 2 whole weeks. It put me in a dark hole. But I think I'll stay on it so that kind of thing doesn't happen again."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2021

For Insomnia "Two years ago, I lost my 21-year-old son. I couldn't sleep after that at all. I'd go 4-5 days with no sleep, then I'd crash for a couple of hours and be wide awake again. My psychiatrist tried everything, and I mean everything. Finally, ziprasidone and Seroquel worked. Then I started gaining weight from the Seroquel. Like 65 pounds! So I begged him for something different, but I had tried everything. Then, yesterday, he gave me some samples of Silenor. It worked! I slept better than I have in two years. He told me that if Seroquel made me gain weight, then this wouldn't. I'm a little worried after reading some of these reviews, though. I will say I'm also less anxious today than I normally am, so I haven't taken a Klonopin today. I haven't felt groggy today either, like I normally do. So far, so good."

• Emj...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2018

For Urticaria "Doxepin is amazing for hives. While waiting for Xolair to work for my urticaria, I was desperate to find some relief from the intense itching every single day, and Benadryl could not keep up with it. I started twice a day, usually 3 pills (25 mg), and could go up or down as needed, as well as other antihistamines. After 6 months on it, I only take 1 at night and am going to switch to (10 mg) Doxepin. I would definitely recommend this drug for urticaria. Side effects were not nice in the beginning, like nausea and extreme tiredness, but I got used to it. I also have gained weight, but it is getting better on lower doses."

• Bri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 6, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Did absolutely nothing for my insomnia, depression, or anxiety. Had bad nightmares, gained a heap of weight. Psych told me to stop after 9 months. Not taper off, just stop! My goodness, not a good idea... moody, awake all night, asleep all day, felt sick, was manic for 8 hours straight. Never again. I don't understand why I was not tapered off. Not happy with psych at all."