Invega and Hormonal Changes: What Users Say

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2020

For Schizophrenia "NIGHTMARE! I do not recommend this drug. I was taking it for 6 weeks (3 weeks to get me on 9 mg and 3 weeks to get me off). Terrible vivid nightmares that seemed more real than reality. I was wondering if I am dreaming or is it real all the time. My mind was empty. My muscles were in pain, I couldn't properly move my body because of 'hard' muscles. I had a feeling of being pregnant - smell and taste changed, I had contractions and I produced milk. Only when this happened doctors decided to put me off that drug. Thank God for body side effects, because doctors don't take it seriously when you tell them that a drug is bad for the mind, emotions, etc."

• Uni...
• April 13, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

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

For Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

• Hor...
• June 16, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "While on Invega, I used to have tremors, shake every day, couldn't focus, was constipated for a month, my belly was swollen, my prolactin levels increased drastically, I didn't get my period for months, I was extremely slow, had no sex drive, and had horrible urinary incontinence. When I look at pictures from that time, it is clear that I was sedated, my face changed, I couldn't even open my eyes properly. Everybody thought that I was weird. I didn't know that urinary incontinence was caused by this drug, but now I see that it is a common side effect. It was so stressful being on this drug, DON'T TAKE THIS HORRIBLE INJECTION. Worst years of my life."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2010

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been hearing voices for 2.5 years. Initially, I had severe emotional swings and delusions created by the voices and my interaction with them. I began taking Invega 18 months ago - this was very successful in moderating the emotions and generally calming my mental state. In terms of side effects: I am really struggling to lose any weight even with a good diet and exercise, I have very high prolactin levels - this contributes to me not getting periods, having occasional breast discharge, and I believe is responsible for 'anorgasmia' - where I have very low sexual desire and arousal, and feelings of orgasm are very subdued. These side effects have become more apparent over time."

• Lea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I’m on Invega approximately 6 weeks. I am diagnosed about 5 years, never settling on any drug as they have me reactions. I am extremely sensitive to medication and always suffer high prolactin levels. On one of my previous medications, after 6 weeks, milk started coming out of my breasts. I was switched to Invega and so far, so good. It has brought out my creative side and I am much more alert, although it’s hard to get up in the morning as I keep falling back to sleep. I am demanding another blood test for tomorrow as I want to know if my prolactin levels have gone down at all. If not, I’m getting off this drug as that’s not good for your body and it’s terrifying having milk coming out when it’s not supposed to. I’ve heard of Caplyta, the new drug, and that has less side effects, but the reviews online aren’t great."

• Ted...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2022

"A quiet execution awaits you. It’s a lobotomy for 2022. Your prolactin will be so high you'd be impotent and won’t remember what a sex drive is. Prepare to say goodbye to all your friends and join a club that’s worse than hell. Carry on taking this if you’re curious about becoming the worst possible version of yourself - obese and void of life and happiness. Save up. Leave your country for a few months. Expel all the people that are in your life controlling you. Don’t trust the doctors or health workers. Get signed off. Take a small amount of quetiapine nightly at 25mg. 100mg if you need to get past something for a week max. No more episodes, pleasure in sex and life goals become achieved - become the best version of yourself pre-diagnosis. Beware it’s a year after stopping this poison to feel again, but the process is positive."

• Bob...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 27, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Been taking it since 2016, it is great at keeping psychosis at bay. However, the main side effect I have had is high prolactin levels. This month, I'm talking to my doctor to switch to Abilify, which keeps prolactin levels in the normal range, unlike Invega."