Invega for Schizoaffective Disorder User Reviews

• Phyc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2020

"If you are looking for the worst time of your life, this is the medication for you! Do you want to gain 100 lbs? Lose all your friends and be turned into a vegetable? If so, Invega will do the job. Don’t take this, it's terrible. You will gain weight, everything nice will be gone from your life, you will feel sick and foggy all the time, and your life will basically be over. It reduces you to a fraction of the person you should be, and it's messy and unpleasant. No one should take this."

• Grant
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2018

"My son started Invega, and the drug made his symptoms worse. He couldn't sleep and became very agitated. He had hospital admissions after hospital admissions. I am sorry to say he killed himself about three months after starting this drug. Please don't let anyone you love start this drug; it is a very bad drug."

• Anya
• February 1, 2020

"I’m currently writing with trembles in my hands and muscle stiffness. I had a nervous breakdown and classified bipolar NIGHTMARE BEGAN. I have extreme paranoia, lost my job because Invega destroyed my hand coordination, TD (I believe I have permanent brain damage), sexual dysfunction, muscle stiffness, tremors in my whole body, hands shaking, face twitching, curling fingers. I can’t hold down food, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal, antisocial, no emotions, removed from relationships, no periods, infertile at this point, no sleep in 3 months, pacing, blurry vision, absolute chemical lobotomy - fear of body deteriorating. 39 years old, hard to find the energy just to stay alive. Everything in my body is dry. I’m a nervous wreck. Detoxing: I was trying to restart my body - No change in 2 months. Instead, have early signs of Parkinson’s."

• Jesus
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2019

"I'm so depressed on Invega that I cry multiple times a day, can't maintain any friendships, too tired and demotivated to work out or play my guitar like I used to. I lay in my bed every day, no motivation for anything."

• Nseyet
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2018

"I was forced to take Invega after a spiritual emergence was diagnosed as schizophrenia, bipolar, and schizoaffective disorder. I had the initial dose of 256mg, I believe, then 150mg for four months. My last shot was in August 2018. By the second shot, my thoughts had stopped. I could no longer think. It shut off my consciousness. My memory and retaining information have been affected. I developed anhedonia. I can no longer feel any emotion. I have no libido or menstrual cycles. I haven't had an appetite in 4 months. I have no desire to eat or get pleasure from it. I have insomnia. I believe this medicine has caused brain damage. Other drugs have reduced or no effectiveness such as cannabis, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and sleep medication. This drug has a half-life of 25-49 days. So it's going to take at least a year before it is completely out of my system."

• Unicorn
• April 13, 2021

"I've been on Invega for 3 years. The beginning was bad. I had so much energy I couldn't sit still or get comfortable. I gained weight but it got better. I started to see the benefits, for example, less tension and edginess, better decision-making, sleep improvements, and feeling less scared and paranoid. Then I got diagnosed with high levels of prolactin. It has been over a year, and they still can't get it under control, which means I'm always itchy and overweight. Now I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes because of the meds. I was told to eat right and exercise every day for the rest of my life. And then he laughed!! It has been about a month since the pre-diabetes diagnosis, and I have only lost 1 kg. That's with healthy eating and exercise. My doctor thinks the benefits still outweigh the risks, so they are constantly pushing the drug on me, but I'm itchy, pre-diabetic, and overweight."

• Kano
• May 14, 2019

"It's been 3 years since I took Invega, but I still think about it often because I have never been as depressed as I was on Invega. I would literally cry upon waking because I couldn't bear being conscious. I was sleeping ~13 hours a day for a few months. It made me catatonic a few times as well. I was so depressed there were times I couldn't lift my head or stand up or even talk. It was an actual nightmare, and my psych insisted it was just initial adjustment side effects, but I have never been on a medication that harmed me as much as Invega. I would have taken the psychosis over the Invega any day. I stopped taking it without permission, and I kid you not—the next day, I felt normal. I physically couldn't get out of bed, and my limbs felt like lead; it was ridiculous. I was in such a dark, dark place and started giving away my belongings, but stopped almost immediately once I stopped the medication."

• darren
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 7, 2022

"It's called xeplion here in the UK. I had a bad 4 months on 100mg for Psychosis. I had Akathisia and felt severely depressed so I went onto 75mg and the difference 4 months down the line has been phenomenal. It was an instant difference when I got my fourth month jab. It has made my head feel lighter and improved my ability to think. Akathisia has been and gone and I no longer have any movement side effects. It has eliminated my psychosis, eased my anxiety and overall improved the quality of my life. I'm extremely thankful to be on this medication."

• RamiJ...
• November 17, 2015

"I am living a productive, symptom-free life because of Invega shot 4 years, 6 mg pill for 1. Now a college grad, off disability, full-time job (40k) at an investment bank all made possible by Invega. I was severely sick and now I haven't been for 5 years. It took a couple of hospitalizations, several lost jobs, and even jail (which was a turning point) to find Invega. I did 3 full-time years in college and got a 3.9 in finance. The only side effects I've had are slightly high cholesterol and weight gain, which for me is somewhat manageable with diet although for what I eat I'd be 20 pounds less. I am now crystal clear and have zero symptoms. Life changer."

• Salty
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2023

"Such a horrible horrible evil drug made me depressed, caused erectile dysfunction, made me puke, made my eyesight worse, made my brain feel foggy, and causes me to itch and sweat profusely. Mucks around with my whole nervous system it needs to be taken off the market! This company and its supporters should be sued immediately."

• Nikki...
• December 28, 2015

"I have been suffering major depression for over 10 years and Zoloft took the edge off, but I was still extremely depressed. I had mood swings and disorganized thinking, speech problems by being unable to articulate what I mean, paranoia, and so forth. I was originally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but the diagnosis didn't fit. I was also diagnosed with Aspergers. I took a personality and general mental health test by a professional psychologist, and the results were tallied by a computer. I have schizoaffective disorder. I showed my results to my psychiatrist, and she prescribed Invega. My depression is gone, I laugh and tell jokes, I can think clearly now, and my relationship with my husband has never been better. Thank you!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2018

"This drug has ruined my life. It caused me to lactate. Even 4 months later off the medicine, I am still lactating and my prolactin got even higher! I had an MRI and it didn't show a pituitary tumor, which this drug can cause. I am now being referred to a neurosurgeon because nobody knows what to do and nobody knows how my prolactin can still be so high. A few years ago, my pituitary gland was symmetrical, but ever since being on Invega, my pituitary gland is asymmetrical. One side is bigger than the other. This drug caused my pituitary to change its shape. On top of that, I lost my periods completely, so now I'm infertile. It also made me eat like a horse and gain weight. My life is ruined. Beware of this drug."

• falle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2018

"A big warning about this drug...it completely stopped all functioning and thought . I was on it for Bipolar disorder which it isn't registered for. I felt destroyed by this drug and my life robbed from me over a misdiagnosis. I gained 30 kgs, have a prolactanoma, obesity ,pre diebetes, serious liver conditions just to name a few that have shortened my life and have left me without any quality of life. Horrible drug that cannot be made available to so many fickle and uncaring doctors. I still experience pain 24/7.e How this drug was ever passed is something to think about and it should only be prescribed to schizophrenics or people with schizoaffective disorder anyway!!!!"

• Stephen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 14, 2023

"At first, I was reluctant about starting this medication, but my doctor insisted and now, after being on it for 2-3 years, my life has greatly improved. I acknowledge that this drug may not work for everyone, but for me, it has been exactly what I needed. My eating habits have become healthier, replacing soda and iced tea with mostly water. I've reduced my smoking and increased my exercise. My job is going well, and I have more financial stability than ever before. Additionally, my sleep has improved, and my sex drive has remained relatively unchanged. I used to be heavily involved in hip-hop music and writing lyrics, but since starting the medication, I haven't pursued that passion. However, I wouldn't trade the positive changes I've experienced for anything. Although 2019 was a challenging year for me, four years later, I have found true inner peace."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2018

"Horrible drug. Made me antsy and severely depressed. I enjoy being off my meds and I love the high I get when I'm unmedicated. Please don't take meds if you wanna feel good. I'm better off my meds and plus I enjoy the high"

• tan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2015

"I have been on this medication for just over two weeks. My head is clear, my thoughts are better, and my communication is better. My partner can't get over the difference: no anger, no depression. In fact, I laugh and sing now. My partner and I don't fight anymore. I actually went for a walk this morning instead of hiding at home. This is great! My choice of food is better and healthier, so I'm hoping to lose weight since I put so much on from the Seroquel. Now all I have to do is talk to my partner's caseworker to put him on it, he has schizophrenia and struggles day to day with all sorts of side effects. Love this stuff! There is a light at the end of the tunnel."

• Natron
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

"I've been on Invega now for 2 months, it has stop the hallucinations and delusions but has also increased my depression. I feel emotionally numb and am tired all the time. I also can't exercise like I used to, to tired to even walk. I'm still adjusting to this new med so Hopefully things will settle down."

• Tryso...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 20, 2017

"This medication sucks. I only experienced side effects and no benefit. I would rather spend my time looking for another way to treat my illness than to give any of these antipsychotics another chance. All of them cause weight gain sexual side effects, tardive dyskensia, tardive dystonia among other side effects that could mess you up for life. I admit it's very debilitating at times but I would rather have my orginal problems than to be given another set of problems to replace them. If your psychosis is really bad and you can't live a normal life at all and your homeless and you scare people or end up in jail because your illness than I say take it. But if you can wait till they figure out how to make better meds than wait."

• ASDFG
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2020

"put on Invega for Bipolar mood swings I could not get past the first couple of days trying this medication. My nose stuffed up and my body felt like dead weight. On day 2 I had a huge panic attack in the evening. I ate from 7pm to 12am. No, no and no."

• psalm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2018

"It helped so much right away but then the honeymoon wore off and It gave me 20 lbs weight gain and an uncontrollable appetite. That slowly went away a month later and then was on injection and started to experience my bladder being constricted and I'd have to go 10-12 times some days. The med helps me "stabilize" but it also now is getting me steadily more depressed and I am getting such intense anhedonia. Am going to go back to Haldol I think. It's like a chemical labotomy, but most meds are anyways and no one really cares about those who suffer from mental illness. "

• MDJ
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2019

"This is a terrible drug. In four days I've had heart palpitations, wheezing shakes, insomnia, aggression, restlessness. Horrible drug for schizophrenics. I interacted more with my voices due to insomnia and headaches. I had to call the suicide crisis line because I had a panic attack so severe night 4 of taking this poison."

• Damien...
• August 6, 2015

"When I first started taking invega it took away the voices and delusional thoughts better than the other injection I was receiving. Weening off of it was not hard but I was also taking large doses of niacin and lithium at the time. I had a manic episode that lasted 3 months after withdrawing. After that, one injection brought me back to reality in less than a day. I have extreme weight gain on invega, drousiness (sleep 12 hours a day) and decreased sex drive. Though it is important for me to point out, like I said, no mania or hallucinating. I function well on the injection. It is the side effects that I have troubles dealing with."

• Maddy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2022

"I was diagnosed with schizoaffective order in June of 2020. Since then I have been on numerous antipsychotics and Invega is by far the worst. It caused brain damage, turned me into a vegetable, and I’ve put on 50 pounds. Everything nice in my life is gone. The adhedonia is the worst thing about it."

• Pixel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2014

"Been on Invega ER for two months; so much better in the head, sorted the acute psychosis out, organized my thoughts in a new and helpful way, slight orthostatic hypotension and drowsiness is easing - overall, this has been a saviour re paranoia and hallucinations etc. AND I am more motivated to do things; continuing with Pristiq at 200mgs and paliperidone 9mg good."

• anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

"Put on Invega and I started hearing voices which is something that's never happened. Panic attacks, something that's never happened. Always felt cold. Would wake up in the middle of the night as though I've been possessed. Invega contains fluoride, highly recommend finding medication fluoride-free. Not to mention it costs $900/month for the pill & $1900/month for the injection! Was on the pill for 2 weeks, went off cold turkey and it was hard, could only describe a really bad physical sensation. I'm trying Lurasidone next, seems to have much better reviews for schizoaffectives. Wish everyone the best."