Doxepin for sleep maintanence insomnia

took 3mg last night took a while to fall asleep i slept a little better with less interuption tonight will try 6mg

Ruinednose wrote:took 3mg last night took a while to fall asleep i slept a little better with less interuption tonight will try 6mg

I would NOT recommend increasing the dosage after only one night. Or rather, I would NOT increase the dosage without explicit instructions from the doctor who prescribed the doxepin. More medication does not always mean the medication will be more effective.

The doctor prescribed me 6mg a night. I decided to try to find the best dose for me by taking 3mg first to see how I would sleep. I did sleep a little better. Less interruptions and I do feel much rested. I do think I mouth breathe a little with the mask (easy life) I have a chin strap yet so uncomfortable I find myself ripping it off in the middle of the night (will try it again tonigjt) I decided to stay on 3mg again on the Silenor (doxepin) and see if tonight I get better rest.

silenor 3mg gave my life back i sleep extremely well with 1 small awakkeing i havent slept this good in a year. WOW

Ruinednose wrote:silenor 3mg gave my life back i sleep extremely well with 1 small awakkeing i havent slept this good in a year. WOW

Ruinednose,

I am so happy for you. Much continued success with the med.

49er

49er wrote:

Ruinednose wrote:silenor 3mg gave my life back i sleep extremely well with 1 small awakkeing i havent slept this good in a year. WOW

Ruinednose,

I am so happy for you. Much continued success with the med.

49er

thank you so muhc, i am so estatic

Ruinednose,

I'm really happy for you that the silenor seems to be solving the sleep maintenance problem! Let's hope that it provides you with some long term relief!

New sleep dr. suggested adding doxepin to the 2mg of lorazepam taken nightly in an effort to sleep longer than 4 hours. Zolpidem er 12.5mg does not work. Has anyone here used the doxepin/lorazepam combo with any success? I'm a little concerned about the reports of weight gain with doxepin. Thanks.

Cokomo wrote:New sleep dr. suggested adding doxepin to the 2mg of lorazepam taken nightly in an effort to sleep longer than 4 hours. Zolpidem er 12.5mg does not work. Has anyone here used the doxepin/lorazepam combo with any success? I'm a little concerned about the reports of weight gain with doxepin. Thanks.

Cokomo,

I think I gained about 5 to 10 pounds when I was on 10mg of Doxepin several years ago. But I am concerned that you are are playing med roulette in an attempt to find the perfect med combination. Has she/he provided any other thoughts as to why you might not be sleeping on the mask besides just offering you meds?

49er

What is doxepin please? I have terrible sleep maintenance but really don't want to take prescriptions? Is there anything else in the way of over the counter meds?

Luthie2006 wrote:What is doxepin please? I have terrible sleep maintenance but really don't want to take prescriptions? Is there anything else in the way of over the counter meds?

You could probably try valerian root supplements. Available OTC at any drug store, usually in powered root form or extracted essence blended with an olive oil base (encapsulated, that is). Some people drink it at bedtime as a tea brewed from valerian root but it tastes pretty nasty IMO. It doesn't cause many side-effects during long term usage. I'd steer clear of Sominex or Tylenol PM and those sorts of supposed sleep aids... over time they can produce negative results and compound sleep problems, at least for many people.

Luthie2006 wrote:What is doxepin please? I have terrible sleep maintenance but really don't want to take prescriptions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxepin

If you want to avoid RX meds then you want to avoid Doxepin.

I have been known to resort to Bendadryl which is OTC to help me sleep. That's what's in most of the OTC "sleep aids" that are marketed directly for sleep aid....like Tylenol PM...the PM part is diphendydramine which is chemical name for Benadryl.
Since I don't want extra tylenol I just take plain Benadryl.
Some people shouldn't take Benadryl though....so I usually suggest that a person discuss it with their doctor or pharmacist.
I personally haven't had any issues with it suppressing respiration (causing centrals) or causing the airway tissues to collapse more and cause OAs.

The main problem people experience with Benadryl is a 'hangover' the next morning. People that don't get it are fortunate. Benadryl is contraindicated for any condition where one shouldn't be taking an anticholinergic (since Benadryl, while being a strong antihistaminic, is also a very powerful anticholinergic).

If you don't get the Benadryl hangover and have no contraindications, by all means, go for Benadryl, there are few medications that have more long term safety data. However, be aware, just like any medication you take long term, if you suddenly stop using it, you will have rebound, in this case manifesting as persistent insomnia, probably in the neighborhood of a few days to a week, while your body re-adjusts to the Benadryl no longer being present.