Doxylamine and Restless Leg Syndrome: What Users Say

• Sin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 27, 2017

Doxylamine for Insomnia "I have taken half a tablet of doxylamine succinate (Sleep Aid), in the evening, for about 3 years now. I originally took it for migraines, but discovered quickly how it made me very drowsy after about 2 hours. It has NEVER failed to work. Taking a whole tablet made me sleep for 10-12 hours, now I get my 8 hours every night with half the dose. It is one of the safest antihistamines on the market. I experimented a few months ago by not taking one, and I couldn't get to sleep, plus I got restless legs. So now I take it every night."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 19, 2019

For Insomnia "Benadryl (diphenhydramine) gives me restless leg syndrome, but I don’t have that issue with Unisom Sleep Tabs (doxylamine succinate). I have extreme insomnia, and I find that these pills will get me to sleep, and I have no problems getting up in the morning to go to work. It also does not make me groggy."

• TQa...
• November 1, 2016

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia since a hysterectomy in 2009, so I began taking Benadryl, but that had the opposite effect on me, and I became very jittery with 'restless leg syndrome,' so I tried Unisom 25 mg nightly. I have been taking Unisom now for 6 years, and it has worked pretty well to help me sleep at night. However, 2 months ago, I developed a fast and irregular heart rhythm. I am a nurse, so I listened to my heart and could hear the missed beats when I felt them. It felt like I had just run up a flight of stairs, but I wasn't out of breath. My heart was just beating very rapidly and irregularly. Couldn't figure out why I was having palpitations, so I quit taking it and saw my doctor. Diminished palpitations since I quit taking it, and all my heart tests and labs are normal."

• Pau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2020

For Rhinorrhea "The first time I took this medicine, I fell asleep okay, but then woke up 4 hours later and couldn’t get back to sleep for about 2 hours. Not realizing the sleeplessness was caused by the medicine, I took it again the next night, and it jolted my body awake and gave me really bad anxiety. I was very tired, but my body felt extremely jittery and nervous. It gave me very uncomfortable restless leg syndrome. It lasted for hours. I’m never taking this again. Do not take if you are prone to anxiety!!!"

• Blo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 19, 2018

For Insomnia "Need something to help me sleep every night. I was taking diphenhydramine but had a terrible need to move my feet and legs (akathisia or restless legs), and it was maddening. Doc told me doxy doesn’t have this effect, and it’s true. Happy to be on these."

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 5, 2019

For Insomnia "Doxylamine used to work for sleep, but after 6 months, it no longer works. It gives me restless legs for about 4 hours, then finally, after exhaustion, I fall asleep. Wake up feeling anxious and not myself. I have also put on weight when my eating habits have not changed. Would not recommend."

• dbe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2013

Doxylamine for Insomnia "Works okay. I do not get the same 'restless leg' issues with this as I have with other over-the-counter pain medicines."