phentermine & depression??

[polarpixie]

I've been taking phentermine on and off for about maybe 5 years now? On as in for a week every couple of months or so whenever I need a big energy boost I can count on to last all day.

I've noticed this past year that when I'm not on it, I'm tired most of the day, and have a rough time being productive, and I think it may have something to do with depression but I'm not sure. So when I get tired of being that way, I pop in a phentermine and besides being more energetic, I am much happier and much more positive than I am without it. It's almost like a high. I usually don't take it for longer than a week at a time because I don't want to depend on any drug.

I'm just noticing a huge trend here and I don't know if it's because the phentermine is helping with my depression or if the depression is from having taken phentermine for so long.

Does anyone know much about the long-term use of this or has had personal experience with it?

 

[smoknjilly]

from what I know, it messes with your seratonin levels. Taking it on and off for 5 years, it could have lowered your level.

I would try and stay away from it if I were you....you want to keep all the seratonin you have...believe me.....

 

[MS]

Your symptoms could easily be related to long term use of phentermine. Although phentermine use is not known to cause depression directly, it does act very much like amphetamines or ephedrine, both commonly cause a 'high' that is addictive, and a 'crash' when you stop taking them.

 

[fl8meplz]

I thionk the phenteramine is helping your depression, but it's like using a blowtorch to light a birthday candle.

It actually messed with your dopamine and norepinephrine levels big time. If I were you I would make an appointment and ask a doc about you putting you on welbutrin which will help straighten out your dopamine and norepinephrine. You get an energy boost from the Welbutrin.

 

[polarpixie]

Thanks for everybody's advice. It's funny that I posted this yesterday since yesterday, the trend broke. I took one of those of babies in the morning and I was tired again around 3pm.


fl8meplz, why would you say Welbutrin over anything else?

 

[fl8meplz]

Because Welbutrin is a dopamine and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor. And since your depression symptoms go away when taking phenteramine, which strongly affects dopamine, it makes logical sense. But, go see a doctor, tell him/her about the phenteramine and your extended lack of energy and that you want to try out welbutrin. I am not a doctor, unless you count Witch Doctor...

 

[fhg43]

Although phentermine use is not known to cause depression directly, it does act very much like amphetamines or ephedrine, both commonly cause a 'high' that is addictive, and a 'crash' when you stop taking them.

FYI...
Phentermine is very much an amphetamine.

FHG
and good luck polarpixie

 

[MS]

Phentermine is an amphetamine-TYPE of CNS stimulant. But that's just semantics. I distinguish between amphetamine, MDMA, (+)-methamphetamine, ephedrine, phentermine, and aminorex. They are all different drugs that exhibit different levels of DA and NE release which is directly related to their addictiveness. In any event, phentermine is a strongly addictive DA/NE releaser. The best combo you could try for treatment of your depression is Prozac plus Wellbutrin. The Prozac enhances the Wellbutrin's ability to increase DA and NE levels. However this is really just substituting two drugs for one, and ultimately you might be better off to just stay off the phentermine permanently and see if your symptoms eventually go away. You need to allow your brain to regulate it's own DA and NE metabolism by leaving it alone! If this doesn't work, then the anti depressants may help.

 

[CrystalChick]

Just curious is there any type of herb or food that could help her???

 

[fl8meplz]

I agree with MassSpec on this. Stay away from phentermine for good.