Drug & supplement interaction

Phosphatidylserine + Doxepin

Doxepin brand names: Sinequan, Doxepin, Zonalon.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Doxepin and Phosphatidylserine in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Phosphatidylserine safety at a glance

Phosphatidylserine overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in studies, but long-term safety is not fully established.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best to avoid use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety while breastfeeding is unknown, so avoidance is recommended.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Doxepin and Phosphatidylserine? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Doxepin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Doxepin is filed under 10 classifications — including tricyclic antidepressants (tcas), antidepressant drugs, qt interval-prolonging drugs. Phosphatidylserine has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being anticholinergic drugs (moderate) and cholinergic drugs (moderate) — and none of Doxepin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Phosphatidylserine Does Interact With Other Medications

Phosphatidylserine has 219 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Doxepin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Phosphatidylserine

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Phosphatidylserine. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Phosphatidylserine Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Doxepin. It is the side-effect record for Phosphatidylserine on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Phosphatidylserine, this list is the first place to look.

  • Bloating or gas / Stomach upset / Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, phosphatidylserine can cause gastrointestinal upset such as flatulence or nausea. Gastrointestinal upset can occur at doses of 200-300 mg/day.”

    Phosphatidylserine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in flatulence.

    5 sources cited
    1. 7116. Pepping J. Phosphatidylserine. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 1999;56:2038,2043-4.
    2. 7121. Kidd PM. Phosphatidylserine; Membrane nutrient for memory. A clinical and mechanistic assessment. Altern Med Rev 1996;1:70-84.
    3. 15539. Schreiber S, Kampf-Sherf O, Gorfine M, et al. An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 2000;37:302-7.
    4. 68862. Monteverde, A., Gnemmi, P., Rossi, F., Monteverde, A., and Finali, G. C. Selegiline in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer-type dementia. Clin.Ther 1990;12(4):315-322.
    5. 90711. Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Kam Y, Korczyn AD. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 Fatty acids may improve memory abilities in nondemented elderly individuals with memory complaints: results from an open-label extension study. Dement Geri PubMed
  • Trouble sleeping / Headache Additional detail

    “Orally, phosphatidylserine can cause insomnia. Insomnia is more likely to occur with a higher dose of 600 mg. Headache has also been reported.”

    Phosphatidylserine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    3 sources cited
    1. 7121. Kidd PM. Phosphatidylserine; Membrane nutrient for memory. A clinical and mechanistic assessment. Altern Med Rev 1996;1:70-84.
    2. 68844. Pepping, J. Phosphatidylserine. Am J Health Syst.Pharm. 10-15-1999;56(20):2038, 2043-2038, 2044.
    3. 90711. Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Kam Y, Korczyn AD. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 Fatty acids may improve memory abilities in nondemented elderly individuals with memory complaints: results from an open-label extension study. Dement Geri PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Phosphatidylserine — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Doxepin to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Doxepin.

Overlapping uses

What Doxepin Is Prescribed For, and What Phosphatidylserine Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Doxepin is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Phosphatidylserine is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Doxepin is prescribed for: This product is marketed to temporarily relieve occasional trouble sleeping when it's brought on by anxiety, restlessness, stress, or sensitivity to caffeine. It is a homeopathic remedy — meaning its claims are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence, and it has not been evaluated by the FDA for effectiveness.

Phosphatidylserine has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Phosphatidylserine has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Phosphatidylserine for depression

    It is unclear if oral phosphatidylserine is beneficial for depression.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Doxepin on your own; if you are taking Phosphatidylserine for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Phosphatidylserine or Doxepin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Phosphatidylserine or Doxepin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Doxepin

This page covers Phosphatidylserine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Doxepin page lists 186 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major) and Beer (major).

By severity: 15 major · 145 moderate · 26 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Doxepin page

“Doxepin is a sedating tricyclic prescribed for depression, anxiety, and often sleep itself, and the people taking it tend to shop the same shelf where the trouble sits. Of the 186 supplements on file, 78 deepen its drowsiness, with alcohol (beer and wine carry major, well-documented ratings) and kava the clearest examples, and I would…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Doxepin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Phosphatidylserine as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,754 real supplement products containing Phosphatidylserine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phosphatidylserine. Even though Phosphatidylserine itself has no known interaction with Doxepin, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Phosphatidylserine
Top 10%

#138 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Doxepin
Top half

#944 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Phosphatidylserine reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Phosphatidylserine

What is Phosphatidylserine?

Phosphatidylserine
  • Memory and cognitive support
  • Age-related cognitive decline
  • Attention and focus (ADHD)
  • Mental performance under stress
  • Exercise recovery

Phosphatidylserine is a natural fat-like compound found in cell membranes, especially in the brain, and it is sold mainly to support memory and thinking. Some research suggests possible benefits for age-related memory problems, but the evidence is limited and far from conclusive. It is generally well tolerated, but check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Phospholipid derived from soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin, or (historically) bovine brain · Capsules, softgels, tablets, powders

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Phosphatidylserine is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Phosphatidylserine record says about it on its own.

Phosphatidylserine: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for phosphatidylserine. Amounts used in studies have varied, and the right amount for any individual is not well established.The safest approach is to follow the dose printed on the product label and not exceed it. Taking it earlier in the day may help reduce the chance of sleep problems.

From our Phosphatidylserine monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Phosphatidylserine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Doxepin (Insomnia)

What Is Doxepin (Insomnia) Used For?

Brand names: Sinequan, Doxepin, Zonalon

This product is marketed to temporarily relieve occasional trouble sleeping when it's brought on by anxiety, restlessness, stress, or sensitivity to caffeine.

It is a homeopathic remedy — meaning its claims are based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence, and it has not been evaluated by the FDA for effectiveness.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Doxepin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (12,553 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Toxicity to various agents 988 reports
Completed suicide 828 reports
Fatigue 793 reports
Nausea 679 reports
Headache 642 reports
See full Doxepin (Insomnia) drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phosphatidylserine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Phosphatidylserine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
219Moderate
0Minor
2,610No known interaction
Moderate

219 interactions

Showing 60 of 219 moderate interactions — see all 219 on the Phosphatidylserine page.

No interaction 2,610 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Phosphatidylserine References

The 9 references that drive our Phosphatidylserine monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Crook T, Petrie W, Wells C, Massari DC. Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's disease. Psychopharmacol Bull 1992;28:61-6.
  2. Pepping J. Phosphatidylserine. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 1999;56:2038,2043-4.
  3. Kidd PM. Phosphatidylserine; Membrane nutrient for memory. A clinical and mechanistic assessment. Altern Med Rev 1996;1:70-84.
  4. Kim HY, Akbar M, Lau A, et al. Inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). Role of phosphatidylserine in antiapoptotic effect. J Biol Chem 2000;275:35215-23.. PubMed
  5. Zanotti A, Valzelli L, Toffano G. Chronic phosphatidylserine treatment improves spatial memory and passive avoidance in aged rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1989;99:316-21.. PubMed
  6. Schreiber S, Kampf-Sherf O, Gorfine M, et al. An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 2000;37:302-7.
  7. Pepping, J. Phosphatidylserine. Am J Health Syst.Pharm. 10-15-1999;56(20):2038, 2043-2038, 2044.
  8. Monteverde, A., Gnemmi, P., Rossi, F., Monteverde, A., and Finali, G. C. Selegiline in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer-type dementia. Clin.Ther 1990;12(4):315-322.
  9. Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Kam Y, Korczyn AD. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 Fatty acids may improve memory abilities in nondemented elderly individuals with memory complaints: results from an open-label extension study. Dement Geri PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Phosphatidylserine with Doxepin?
We do not list a known interaction between Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Phosphatidylserine in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Doxepin is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Phosphatidylserine and Doxepin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Doxepin is filed under 10 classifications, and Phosphatidylserine has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Doxepin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Phosphatidylserine interact with any other medications?
Yes. Phosphatidylserine has 219 documented drug interactions in our database — Doxepin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Doxepin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Doxepin has documented interactions with 186 supplements in our database — Phosphatidylserine is not one of them. The Doxepin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Doxepin and Phosphatidylserine?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.