Conditions · FAQ
What side effects and interactions matter when taking doxepin for insomnia?
Short answer
Doxepin for insomnia can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. Alcohol and other sedating medicines can increase impairment. Tell your physician about all medicines and supplements before treatment. Do not drive if you feel sleepy, and seek urgent help for trouble breathing, severe allergic symptoms, or dangerous sleep-related behavior.
Doxepin can cause sleepiness, dizziness, or nausea. Some people may feel less alert the next morning. Do not drive, use machinery, or do other risky tasks until you know how the medicine affects you. Take it only as directed and only when you have time for a full night's sleep.
Avoid alcohol while taking doxepin. Opioids, anxiety medicines, other sleep medicines, sedating antihistamines, and some supplements can add to drowsiness. Other medicines can change doxepin levels or create serious interactions. Tell your physician if you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or MAOI, or have taken one within the past two weeks.
Make sure your physician knows about glaucoma, trouble emptying your bladder, breathing problems during sleep, liver disease, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. These details can change whether treatment is suitable.
Seek urgent help for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat. If you sleepwalk, drive, eat, or do other activities while not fully awake, stop the medicine and contact your prescriber right away. Report new or worsening mood symptoms promptly. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Sources
Written by the Verra clinical team · Medical review pending
General information, not medical advice. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.