My wife began taking 30mg Phentermine in June 2015 and after 5 months moved up to 37.5mg. She does not exercise but we both have a healthy diet. She has lost 30 pounds but she is a completely different person. I looked up the side effects and noticed irritability was on the list, but in the past year irritability is just a small part of what I've noticed. Since taking this medication she has changed. There is so much anger and displeasure not only with me but everyone she works with. The smallest thing can set her off and even if it's dealt with or fixed right away she is unable to move beyond it. She dwells on things often becoming more angry days or weeks after the original issue had already been resolved. There is nothing else I can think of in the past year that could have caused the personality changes I've seen.
Please help me and let me know if anyone out there has seen or experienced similar behavior from a loved one who has taken Phentermine.
How bad can the irritability and mood swings be when taking Phentermine?
Question posted by NeedHelp702 on 1 May 2016
Last updated on 13 November 2024 by Alexsanc
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
17 Answers
im going through the exact same thing
My boyfriend of almost 4 years started taking this drug less than a month ago, and has become a completely different person and refuses to believe it has anything to do with this. Also, having had an issue with drug abuse in the past, it feels as though he is right back to the person he was, irritable, paranoid, and verbally abusive. He was clean for a year before he was prescribed this and now, we're on the verge of a breakup because he is making things up, accusing me of cheating, and has gone as far to hiding cameras in the house and believed that a conversation that was had on a TV show I was watching was a real conversation between my ex and I, who has never even set foot in our house. And there's no talking to him about it, he's dead set on what he thinks he's seeing and hearing, even when I'm just home alone watching TV. It's heartbreaking to see how many people have gone through similar things, and I fear that our relationship will end before they take him off this drug.
Well let me start by saying all of these stories hit home for me. My girlfriend and mother of my child has been taking this nasty drug for about 1 year. Needless to say our 12 year relationship came to a screeching hault. Before Phentermine she was a lovely, caring woman with a huge heart. Sadly today she is a moody, angry, sometimes sad shell of herself. The way she handles any sort of issue now begins with blame, then she will be annoyed and finally very angry. This is a woman that I had seen angry maybe 3 times in our long relationship before the drug. Nowadays she is angry 3 times a day and blames me for EVERYTHING. When I try to have a conversation with her , she almost comes out of her skin and she ends up blowing me off or telling me how it's all my fault. My child and I now spend all of our time without her, she is too busy doing anything else and it's usually meaningless crap.
My girlfriend and I are now done, she won't even talk to me about reconciling, just tells me it's all my fault. This drug will kill any sort of kindness or thoughtfulness in certain people. I am heartbroken knowing a drug ended my little family. I asked her to stop, but we all know how that went over. Good luck to you all, and I'm truly sorry that so many people have lost so much due to this little "magic pill".
My girlfriend of 9 months started taking phentermine without telling me about 2 months ago. I'm not sure what kind of Dr. would prescribe this to someone not over weight, knowing the possible side effects. We had a great relationship, but she become so focused on my imperfections even if the problem had been fixed. It seemed like in less than 2 weeks she went from someone who loved me and my dogs, to not being able to stand the sight of or thought of us. When I confronted her about her use which was apparent, she finally admitted to it but her ego was so inflated on this stimulant she couldn't even consider it might be the problem. She refused to stop taking it and ended things with me. it broke my heart to lose her this way.
My wife just recently started taking this medication two months ago. We already had issues in the past but now it’s literally an argument almost every single day. She refuses to stop taking the medicine and use to have drug abuse issues. She sniffs her nose all day long and gets irritated with me about every little thing that I bring up. I no longer recognize her at all and she has definitely gotten worse and worse over time. We have been together for 9 years and I feel like now we will soon have to end up getting a divorce. I love her so much and after reading these answers explains a lot to me why she is acting the way she is acting. Stays up late at night every night now and just constantly wanting to clean and not sit down at all. Just really wish she would’ve never started taking it this needs to be taken off the market immediately.
Phentermine is very similar to amphetamines a CNS stimulant. Of course your wife will change, this medication will definitely change her, her brain is stimulated and you are already living a life, which both of you do not deserve after 9 years of marriage because I believe she wants to lose weight, correct me if I am wrong, talk to her Dr., as you mention she had drug abuse issues, this drug is addictive plus in time one builds up tolerance you do the math.
And I do agree with you, they should stop prescribing this drug, in my opinion it is destructive.
I read up on Phentermine and the literature from Drugs.com mentions the following, which I believe to be of relevance:
Before taking this medicine
You should not use phentermine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
a history of heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, congestive heart failure, stroke);
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
overactive thyroid;
glaucoma;
extreme agitation or nervousness;
"a history of drug abuse; or"
if you take other diet pills.
Like so many other stories on here that I’ve read, I also lost a relationship because of this poison. That said, I guess this is more of a therapeutic exercise but to those of you taking it, considering, or who have a loved one who is taking it, please please please stop taking it.
I met a woman 5 months ago who was everything I had ever dreamed of. I’m not kidding and I felt like the luckiest man in the world. A month ago she started taking phentermine and that’s as long as we lasted. The first day she took it, she turned into a robot and in fact I mentioned something to her. She was cold and distant and within a few days became very reactive to the smallest things. She literally went from the sweetest woman I had ever met to someone who would snap over the smallest things and could also be so heartless at times that I didn’t even recognize her.
I pleaded with her to please stop and offered to do anything I could to support her like going to the gym so she could lose weight through lifestyle changes instead. She refused to stop and was incapable of seeing how different she had become.
The next month we fought constantly. I would just look at our text message string from before she started taking and after and it was astounding to see how these angry text wars began. All the sweet affirmations she used to text became rare, and if at all, were very canned. Finally she agreed to stop for a period and she immediately went back to the woman I fell in love with and things went back to normal. Unfortunately she then started to feel out of control and self conscious once again about her weight. I don’t minimize this and believe me, I felt horrible asking her to stop because I also hated seeing her feel so self conscious when to me she genuinely was the most beautiful woman I had ever met in every way. I should say that I am the furthest thing from a controlling boyfriend but instead I was just trying to save our relationship.
All that to say, she started taking it again behind my back and I could tell immediately though she denied it. I asked her if I could hold on to the medicine just so I wouldn’t have to doubt. In fact I offered to give her a $500 deposit just so she knew she would get it back. Sounds extreme, I get it, but the affect of this stuff was that bad and that’s how desperate I was for it to stop. She refused and kept asking why I was so focused on the phentermine, continuing to deny that it was causing all of the problems that it was. Ultimately I had to walk away because it hurt so bad that she kept choosing this medicine over me. I could no longer believe that she truly loved me since she continued to do so. I know that wasn’t her but rather this evil drug. This stuff will change you and it will destroy your relationships like so many people on here have stated. You’ll deny it and you won’t be able to see it but I assure you, it will change you and respectfully, you’ll have only yourself to blame for not heeding the warnings from all the people who have said these same things, many even stating that they ultimately divorced. My heart is so broken right now. To lose someone so amazing over some stupid drug is both infuriating and devastating. Do not do this to your loved ones if you’re taking it or considering. To those reading this because you’re wondering if maybe this medication has changed someone you love, you’re not wrong. It has and my heart goes out to you. I know the desperation that goes along with just wanting the person you love to please stop and even if they do, having to wonder if they’ve truly stopped. I’m so sorry for your loss, because even if you still have the person in your life, I know you feel that you’ve lost the person they once were.
I don’t know what else to say. I love you so much Ange. I miss you like crazy. My heart is broken. You were the most amazing woman I had ever met. And to everyone else, please, please, please, PLEASE do not take this drug.
I feel bad for everyone impacted on this string. I am in the midst of going through a divorce that I can't help but think was propelled on by this terrible drug. I feel it preys on the people with insecure body issues and should not be used unless someone is morbidly obese... which my wife was not.
My wife has shown the phen-rage time and time again. Very similar to the other stories on here. I no longer recognize her and she blames me for everything that is bad in our relationship. Yes, with Covid we have kind of hit a rut but, that is no reason to jump ship so easily without even the slightest chance of reconciling. She has been uber-focused on small details of issues and has blamed me for things that never happened between her and me. There has been bizarre behavior and there seems to be wall up when talking to her. Oh and the crazy energy states where she cleaned out a whole garage and pond in a week.
She has had depression bouts in the past but this seems to have unleashed the demon from within. Maybe this should be considered before going on this drug.
Isn't it odd that everyone on here sees it, and it is in the "rare" side effects but the one you love can't see it... Even when you confront them in a very loving way calm way. I have never seen my wife have such anger and contempt, and NOTHING happened to participate this. There were no arguments, she just loathes the ground I walk on right now, and she has repeatedly told me this. The hurt I have sustained has been real, and very tough to take. She has called me controlling and demanding, something I have never been. I am not perfect but, I will always be the first to back down in argument and the first to say I am sorry.
Our issue, like most people in a rut comes down to true communication with one another. I wish I had been smarter and taken an interest when she told me she was going to take this drug, I just was being the normal happy husband, telling her that what ever she needed... I was behind her. She was a perfect woman and the love of my life. We have an amazing son together and I am afraid for him, as well. I pray at some point she gets off of this drug and sees what it has done to her family.
If you see this before a loved one starts using this drug, talk to each other and let them know you will call them out if their personality does a 180. A wonder pill this is not... It is as other people have said pure EVIL! Good luck to everyone!
I empathize with all who have posted about the impacts phentermine has had on their lives. My husband began taking the drug just recently (June 2021) and it was like someone flipped a switch. The guy who is normally so loving, so sweet, so easy going - has been replaced by a man who can’t stand the sight of with me, doesn’t care how much this is hurting us and doesn’t seem to grasp how much he has changed. It’s killing me inside. I don’t want this to destroy my marriage. He’s seen great weight loss so I’m afraid he will continue to take the drug as long as the doctor will prescribe it. Phen-Rage is real…and it doesn’t end after a couple weeks.
Hi i am 24 years old i started taking adipex 3 months ago i am on my last scrip now and i have noticed in the past month that adipex is making me angry and upset also every little thing sets me off as well and emotional and irritated as well
I’m going through the exact same experience. Ever since my wife starting taking phentermine she has become extremely evil. She constantly wants to fight and she will make sure she finds a reason to. I haven’t had peace in my home ever since. I don’t know her anymore but she refuses to stop taking them.
That’s happened to me my wife started this medication in June 2020 and now we are filling out are divorced papers I noticed that she was angry all the time screaming and everybody in are house for little things or for no reason she starts to blame me for her anger and for her to be screaming at are kids this drug takes everything away from you):
My husband and I are now separated due to this drug. It has destroyed our marriage and the relationship with the kids. He has become angry at all of us and everyone around him. I am so sad. I am seeing things go bad. The drug is horrible. He claims he is off of it but the years of hurt it has caused is unreal. I’m sorry for anyone else who has to deal with this.
I have been taking Phentermine on and off for several years starting in 2015. I was 19 years old when I first starting taking it, now I'm 24 years old. I noticed the mood swings right away when I found myself questioning my irrational behavior. I did a lot of research and didn't find anything super helpful. My doctor told me she had heard other patients saying the medication had made them easily annoyed and aggressive. She claimed to not understand why though. Out of the 3 or 4 different times I've taken this medication I've noticed the mood swings to be rare or completely diminished when I was exercising regularly and staying away from caffeine. I believe that having that much energy and not burning it off is going to cause you to become over stimulated and therefore extremely irrational.
There is a point during the day where you come down from the effects of the drug wether you've burned all the energy off or not because our bodies can't handle a hyperactive state for too long. This "come down" happens rapidly. When I say rapidly I mean I would basically be in a manic state, experiencing a positive "I love life" mood then not even 30 minutes later I was ready to tear anyones head off that came near me. Sometimes I would still be manic but it would be more violent or aggressive. This can be very dangerous if you're not willing to exercise and burn off the energy or reduce the amount of phentermine you take. THIS IS NOT AN EASY COP OUT SOLUTION TO LOSE WEIGHT! I gained the weight back the first few times because I was relying on the pills to keep the weight off. Guess what. If you don't change your eating and exercise habits you're still the same lazy f*ck you were 30 lbs ago. Get off your butts and do something besides popping pills. Tell your stubborn wives to read this. If she doesn't wanna change then she's probably a selfish b*tch and always will be.
I was on this weight loss drug as well, I worked on a job that I loved. I lost that job due to phentermine I had gotten paranoid and very suspicious of my supervisor, I would feel like she was trying to get me fired, I had made a couple mistakes at work and I was convinced that someone got into my account and made the mistakes in hopes of getting me fired! One day I thought my supervisor was following me and also the Human Resources lady as well. I went to the weight loss Dr. where I had gotten the pills and I asked him if the pills caused you to become paranoid, he told me no and that if anything they make me alert, I believed him. On my 6 year anniversary at my job I was fired because when my job did an investigation on my computer to see if someone in fact had been using my account to make mistakes they only saw where I had been signing in and no one else.
Afterwards of course I continued to take the pills because I believed what the Dr told me and I went into depression crying and very very sleepy my cousin tried helping me get a job at the hospital where she worked but I was in no shape to even think about finding another job. Two days before my wedding I stopped taking the pills I had gotten back to 120lbs (I had went through a lot of stress a couple years back and had gained slot of weight I had gotten to 160 lbs never had I ever gotten that big except when I was pregnant with my kids) on my honeymoon I started experiencing stomach pains and diarrhea really bad but I still didn’t figure out it was the pills I thought I had food poisoning the pain and diarrhea continued even when I got home one day I woke up on the toilet didn’t know how I got there no one was home I had a trail from my bed to the toilet I must’ve passed out on the toilet. I called my dad and he took me to the hospital they didn’t really do anything they checked me and dismissed it as a virus that needed to run it’s course... it was soooo bad I had to wear a diaper to school (I couldn’t control my bowels) I finally started feeling better and stopped my bouts of crying and started feeling like myself and I stared doing research on the pills and i found out that the pills do if you take them for a long period of time in my case it was non stop for about 6 months! They will cause mild schizophrenia and with in a year I went from 120 lbs to 193lbs after I stopped taking the pills I couldn’t control my eating I could never get full..
I started taking these pills and I notice my mood swings right away and a sadness comes over me it's only been a few days so I haven't notice any weight loss but this is a bad side affect
Related topics
phentermine, diet, exercise, irritability, mood swing
Further information
- Phentermine uses and safety info
- Phentermine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Phentermine (detailed)
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