Doxepin HCL for insomnia?

[s2k1099]

I was prescribed Doxepin HCL for insomnia today and was wondering if anyone knows anything about the effects/effectiveness of it.
They've tried me on
- Trazadone 50-100mg (Headaches in the morning)
- Seroquel 25-50mg (Too sedative initially + bad morning residual effects)
- Ambien 10mg (Too fun - abused the shit out of it for recreational use)

My script is for 10-20mg before bed, i haven't tried it yet.

The only other meds I'm on are 30mg Adderall IR twice a day

Any advice would be awesome, thanks

 

[nAON]

Not familiar with that particular drug, but is the insomnia related to the adderal use? It may be worth trying to take a lower dose the second time, or taking it earlier.

 

[s2k1099]

The only problem with taking the adderall earlier is the comedown side effects in the evening. If i take my first dose at 9am and my second at 2pm, ill be feeling so lethargic by 7pm that i can't do anything. I end up laying down staring off into space until i need to sleep again. I've been taking my first dose of adderall at noon and my second dose at 5pm and at about 10pm im digging out the sleeping pills.

So i guess I'm looking for a comedown aid more than a sleeping pill? but its either that or i lose 6 hours of productivity in the evening, haha. I've just had bad luck with these off label insomnia cures.

 

[nAON]

Benzos would probably be best for that, though there are a lot of problems associated with using them regularly, especially if you had a hard time with ambien.

Have you tried any OTC medications, like antihistamines (DPH etc.) or stuff like melatonin?

 

[nsauce]

I've taken Doxepin many times in the 90's. It would knock my ass clean out.
Can't remember the dosage, but I wasn't taking more than 1 or 2 capsules.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Many amphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine, etc) prescriptions for ADD require that a "booster dose" be taken in the afternoon. However, since amphetamine's after-effects lasts a bit longer than the 3-6 hour primary effects, many people have problems sleeping that evening.

Benzodiazepines are safe to use to help sleep in this situation provided they are used sparingly. Trazodone is a dirty drug and has an even worse active metabolite (mCPP) that is actually used to induce migraines. Since trazodone gave you headaches I would avoid taking it in general. Seroquel and other anti-psychotics (in low doses) are probably the best for knocking down an amphetamine experience and allowing one to get to sleep. Seroquel is an extremely powerful antihistamine at lower doses.

Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant properties, and this includes sedative properties. It looks like it has powerful antihistamine properties as well, which is why it is prescribed for insomnia. I have no experience with this drug but it looks like it may work for you. Have you tried it as prescribed for insomnia?

 

[BlueHues]

All I know is, my friends mom got prescribed xanax in the '90s....They switched her to this, and it had similar effects to me, very sedating....although if you're a regular benzo user who knows?

 

[helium-4]

Abusing ambien is going to make your insomnia a shit ton worse. Stop doing that. Its silly imo to get on other meds for insomnia when it looks like there are factors in your life that should be changed/are causing you to have trouble sleeping.

You also seem to be taking your amphetamines to late in the day as well (Maybe even consider lowering your late afternoon dose down, thirtymg is a lot of amphetamine to take at 5pm if you want to sleep around 11pm or 12am)

 

[s2k1099]

Abusing ambien is going to make your insomnia a shit ton worse. Stop doing that. Its silly imo to get on other meds for insomnia when it looks like there are factors in your life that should be changed/are causing you to have trouble sleeping.

That's why I'm on doxepin, i stopped the ambien because i abuse it.