Doxepin vs Trazodone For Sleep – The Ultimate Comparison
Since decades ago, Doxepin and Trazodone were conceived by pharmaceutical companies as similar, but distinct medications with different uses.
Doxepin was designed to reduce anxiety and insomnia, while Trazodone was developed to treat depression.
They are both highly effective for these purposes, however, there are notable differences between these medications that make one better suited to some individual’s conditions than others. This article will focus a lot on some differentiating factors between doxepin vs trazodone for sleep.
Doxepin For Sleep (Silenor) – What Is It & How It’s Used?
Trazodone is used more in the treatment of depression and is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. Doxepin (Silenor) has properties that help it be effective for treating nightmares and insomnia.
The main factor that must be taken into account when comparing Trazodone versus Doxepin for treating sleep is the fact that these two drugs are chemically-related.
They are both classified as tricyclic antidepressants, so doxepin also has antihistamine qualities, which can cause some sedation qualities as well. Some people with sleep issues have reported good results from taking a dose of doxepin at bedtime.
Another issue that needs to be considered when thinking about Trazodone versus Doxepin at night would be that they are both available at lower doses which can help to fight insomnia without causing excessive drowsiness or hallucination during the day.
Doxepin For Sleep – Pros & Cons
| Doxepin Pros | Doxepin Cons |
| Improves sleep quality | Difficulties to empty your bladder |
| Can improve energy levels & appetite | Can increase your appetite to a point of weight gain |
| Not addictive | Can experience tiredness |
| Negative conflict with other drugs |
Doxepin Pros
Improves sleep quality
Doxepin helps you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It can also improve the quality of your sleep so that you wake up feeling more refreshed.
Can improve energy levels & appetite
Doxepin can help to improve your energy levels and appetite, so if you’re feeling tired or low in energy, it might be worth giving this medication a try.
Not addictive
You can safely take it for years without needing to worry about becoming dependent on it or experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking it.
Doxepin Cons
Difficulties to empty your bladder
This is one of the most common side effects that you can experience while taking this drug. The problem is that it will give you difficulties when it comes to emptying your bladder, and this can be very annoying as well as uncomfortable.
Can increase your appetite to a point of weight gain
Another side effect associated with Doxepin is an increased appetite which leads to weight gain. If you are not careful about what you eat, then chances are that you will end up gaining some extra pounds within a short period of time.
Can experience tiredness
This is another side effect that you might experience when taking Doxepin for sleep problems, especially if it is taken at high doses or for long periods of time without being monitored by a doctor or health care professional.
You may also notice that there are times when you feel tired even though it’s not yet time for bedtime.
Negative conflict with other drugs
If you take other medications such as antidepressants or antihistamines while on Doxepin therapy, then there could be negative interactions between all three medications which could lead to serious complications such as arrhythmias.
Trazodone For Sleep – What Is It & How It’s Used?
Trazodone For Sleep – Pros & Cons
| Trazodone Pros | Trazodone Cons |
| Effective treatment for people over 65 | Prolonged sleepiness or fatigue |
| Promotes slow-wave sleep | Feelings of dizziness and dry mouth |
| Can cause changes in weight gain |
Tradozone Pros
Effective treatment for people over 65
It is also prescribed off-label for treating insomnia in patients over 65 years old who do not respond well to other medications like benzodiazepines or nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (e.g., zolpidem).
Promotes slow-wave sleep
Trazodone can promote slow-wave sleep which has been shown to improve mood regulation in patients with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder (MDD).
Feelings of dizziness and dry mouth. The side effects of Trazodone can include dizziness and dry mouth, which can make it difficult for users to function normally during the day.
Tradozone Cons
Prolonged sleepiness or fatigue
Trazodone is known to cause feelings of drowsiness, which can last up to a day after you take it. In some cases, this may be an advantage for people who need help falling asleep and staying asleep, but for those who want to wake up refreshed and alert, this could be problematic.
Feelings of dizziness and dry mouth
The side effects of Trazodone can include dizziness and dry mouth, which can make it difficult for users to function normally during the day.
Can cause changes in weight gain
Because Trazodone can cause drowsiness and fatigue, this medication has been shown to cause weight gain among some users over time due to lack of energy for activities.
Doxepin vs Trazodone For Sleep – The Ultimate Comparison
| Doxepin | Trazodone | |
| Used for | Used to treat symptoms associated with anxiety | Used for its sleep-inducing effects |
| Prescription | Prescription-only | Prescription-only |
| Rating | 6.1/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Dosage Forms | Oral capsule, Oral concentrate, Oral tablet | Oral tablet |
| Drug Interactions | A total of 657 drugs are known to interact with doxepin | A total of 605 drugs are known to interact with trazodone |
| Disease Interactions | Depression, Seizure disorders Glaucoma Liver disease, etc. | Seizures Suicidality Cardiovascular disease Hypotension, etc. |
Here is a summary of the key differences between the two:
- Doxepin and trazodone are both medications that can be used to treat insomnia. They work by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain, which helps you to fall asleep.
- Doxepin is an antidepressant medication that is also used to treat anxiety disorders. It is known by the brand name Silenor. This drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a sleep aid and is available in generic form as well.
- Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that has been approved by the FDA for use as a sleep aid, but it is not available generically. It is commonly sold under the brand names Desyrel, Oleptro, and Tomzide.
- Both Doxepin and Trazodone are commonly used to treat insomnia. They both belong to the class of medicines called antidepressants, which act on the neurotransmitters in your brain that control mood and sleep.
- Doxepin comes in tablet form, and you’ll normally take it once per day at bedtime. It can take up to two weeks for your doctor to fully adjust your dosage if needed, which means you might experience some side effects during this time.
- Trazodone is not intended to be used long-term. If you have been using trazodone for more than 1 week, it is recommended that you seek medical advice as soon as possible.
- Both drugs are available in generic forms, and both can be purchased over-the-counter. But if you want something stronger than over-the-counter medication, doxepin will give you a prescription while trazodone won’t.
- If you take either of these drugs regularly, they can cause side effects such as dry mouth or difficulty urinating. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking them because they could affect your ability to think clearly or react quickly enough to avoid an accident.
The Best & Safest Treatment For Sleep (Without Side-Effects)
If you have trouble sleeping, it can feel like there’s no escape from the stress and anxiety that keeps you up at night. The good news is that there are ways to make your environment conducive to sleep—and they don’t involve any drugs or expensive treatments.
- Exercise regularly. Doing this helps you to fall asleep faster and sleep better. Not only that, exercise also increases your metabolism and improves your mood, which makes it easier to fall asleep.
- Keep a regular schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps you regulate your body clock, which in turn helps you sleep better throughout the night.
- Limit your use of electronics. The light from electronic devices can suppress your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles, which makes it harder to fall asleep. The first thing you need to do is eliminate any blue light from your bedroom.
This includes anything with an LED screen, such as a TV, computer, or phone. If you can’t ditch these things entirely, try setting your devices to night mode when they’re not in use. By doing this, you’ll avoid exposure to blue light while still being able to see what you need to see on their screens when you need them.
- Make your environment or bedroom conducive to sleep. This involves making sure that the temperature is comfortable, there is no noise, and that the room is dark. Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes that don’t restrict movement.
- Take a natural supplement that enhances your mood and provides a better and relaxed feeling overall, such as Serenity. When given a choice between a natural sleep aid versus one that has been manufactured synthetically, I recommend you go for the natural remedy. In any case, always consult with a medical professional before taking any supplement for better sleep.
- Include probiotics and prebiotics in your diet. Probiotics and prebiotics are substances that are naturally present in many foods, such as yogurt, miso soup, and kefir.
They’re also available as dietary supplements. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help maintain the balance of your gut flora. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that probiotic bacteria feed on. Probiotics have been shown to help improve sleep quality by reducing inflammation in the gut and reducing the production of stress hormones.
As a long-time advocate of natural healing and wellness, I would recommend you try out natural sleep aids before resorting to manufactured or commercially-available drugs. Drugs are not always the answer to your problem—sometimes they can cause more harm than good.
What Is Better Than Trazodone for Sleep?
Not one drug is really better than the other. There are many different medications that are used to treat insomnia, but not all of them are equal.
Some work better than others, and some have more side effects than others. Doxepin vs Trazodone For Sleep is a battle that goes on in the minds of many people who suffer from sleep issues.
The two drugs have many similarities, but they also have some differences that can make one more suitable for a particular patient than the other.
It’s important to understand both sides of this debate before making any decisions about what medication you should be taking for your sleep issues.
Can You Take Doxepin and Trazodone Together?
YES. Doxepin and trazodone are both prescribed for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia.
They are also considered to be safe to use together in most cases. However, there are some precautions that you should keep in mind when combining these medications.
Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant that’s used primarily to treat depression and anxiety. It’s also been shown to be effective at treating insomnia by increasing sleep time by about 50 minutes per night compared to placebo.
Trazodone is another antidepressant that’s also used for the treatment of insomnia as well as other conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Dosage Information
The recommended dose of doxepin is 25 mg taken once daily at bedtime. The maximum dosage is 75 mg per day if necessary but should not be exceeded unless under a doctor’s supervision due to risk of side effects like seizures or heart problems if too much is taken at once.
Is Doxepin a Good Sleeping Pill?
Doxepin is an antidepressant medication that is used to treat depression and anxiety. It is also used to treat insomnia, which is a common symptom of depression.
Doxepin is not a sleeping pill, but it can be used to help you get better sleep if you have insomnia. Doxepin works by blocking certain chemicals in your brain that cause anxiety and depression.
It also helps reduce the amount of pain signals sent to your brain, which can make it easier for you to fall asleep.
However, there are many side effects associated with doxepin. It causes drowsiness and dizziness when you first start taking it and may cause blurred vision and weight gain over time. You should not take doxepin if you have glaucoma or accidentally swallow too much at once (overdose).
How Long Does It Take for Doxepin to Work for Sleep?
Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant that can be used to treat insomnia, but it’s not the best choice for your sleep needs.
Doxepin has a half-life of about 24 hours, which means that the drug will remain in your system for almost a day after you take it. This makes it unsuitable for people who need to wake up early in the morning and for those who have trouble falling asleep at night.
It is available in two forms: doxepin immediate release, which starts working within an hour of taking it, and doxepin extended release, which takes four hours to start working.
The drug can be taken with or without food. The recommended dose is 10 mg daily in divided doses. This can be increased up to 40 mg daily if needed.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of our doxepin vs trazodone comparison.
Both are viable options when it comes to the treatment of insomnia, but each come with their own share of pros and cons.
For example, there are those who might be upset by the side effects of trazodone, while others might not be keen on taking a medication that is habit forming. On the other hand, we have doxepin, a long-term option that doesn’t produce as much grogginess upon waking like trazodone does.
In conclusion, Doxepin and Trazodone, although similar in their uses for sleep, have many differences in their specific actions on the brain. It is also important to note that both of these drugs have been known to have a narrow margin between effective doses and toxic doses.
Although they are powerful drugs and extensively prescribed, they both carry side effects, including weight gain and drowsiness. As with all medications, you should consult your doctor before deciding on which medication is right for you.
