The connection between phentermine and depression is that the drug has been known to induce this mental state in patients who are taking the drug. Depression is a fairly rare side effect of the drug, but it has been documented as a possible outcome, although common side effects such as dry mouth, constipation and vomiting are more likely to occur. Stopping taking phentermine can also cause depression in some patients, and this reaction is particularly likely if the patient has been taking the drug for an extended period of time.
Phentermine is classified as an appetite suppressant, and it is often used alongside better diet and exercise by people who are hoping to lose weight. The drug is chemically similar to amphetamines, but the precise action of the drug isn’t known. Doctors believe that the drug acts on the parts of the brain that are responsible for regulating appetite. The link between phentermine and depression isn’t fully understood, but some professionals have theorized that the drug’s stimulation of the nervous system might cause an imbalance between the different mood-regulating neurotransmitters within the brain.
Many of the common side effects of the drug, although they do no not actively display the link between depression and phentermine, might be responsible for some patients suffering from depression when taking the drug. Common side effects include irritability, trouble sleeping and feelings of nervousness — the combination of which could easily lead a person to depression after some time. The drug also might cause impotence or a decrease in libido. These are among the most common side effects of phentermine, and if a patient experienced several of these simultaneously, depression is a plausible result, particularly if this went on for an extended period of time. Common side effects should be discussed with a doctor only if they are persistent or severe.
The link between phentermine and depression comes from the less common possible side effects of the drug. Uncommon side effects of the drug include dizziness, confusion and stomach pain, but these are experienced by far fewer patients. Feelings of depression are also listed among the more rare side effects, so there is a chance that patients will experience depression specifically when taking the drug. Most patients who are taking phentermine will not experience depression.
Withdrawal symptoms can occur when a patient stops taking phentermine after taking it for an extended period of time. If the patient is using the drug as part of a weight loss regimen, he or she could experience side effects when the drug is stopped. This is because the body becomes partially dependent on the drug’s effects, and the chemical imbalance within the brain might trigger depression. Phentermine and depression are therefore also connected through the potential withdrawal symptoms of the treatment.