Invega Sustenna for Schizophrenia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2016

"Cleans the mind of weird thoughts, delusions, and hallucinations. Weight gain has been noted, as well as a general feeling of restlessness and drowsiness. I'm always on slow motion and need to think things twice or three times. Still better than having conversations with dead people or thinking my brain can see in the future... by the way, don't try quitting this drug cold turkey. It's a recipe for disaster."

• inv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2022

"I've been off this med for three years, and I've never recovered my sex drive. I have permanent erectile dysfunction. I'm unable to feel love, happiness, joy, or excitement. I can't even cry. Oh, and it also made me infertile. My semen is completely clear, and I did a semen analysis, and my levels are incredibly low."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2017

"Have been on Invega inj. for 2 months. Most hallucinations, auditory, visual, and mental gone. Has been a game changer for me as my life was completely unmanageable before. Still not leaving home much and have gained a few pounds, nothing too drastic, but it beats having conversations with people only I can see and not having a choice about it. Also, my insurance wouldn't cover it, it's about $2000 USD for 1 month inj. Thanks, hope this helps."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2012

"Invega is working great on auditory symptoms, and no lethargy noted. I have noted some of the adverse side effects after the first dose: sudden weight gain, indigestion, pain at the injection site, and sore throat. In addition to these, there has been increasing facial and abdominal bloating. I am concerned, but there is no other medicine I am aware of at this time, and the doctor feels the benefit outweighs the side effects."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2020

"Taking this drug Invega Sustenna helped a bit with my schizophrenia symptoms. The side effects, on the other hand, were something else. I was significantly slowed down both mentally and physically. I did lose about 5 pounds and lost interest in food, most probably due to feeling really depressed about my condition. I also couldn’t stop walking about, I couldn’t sit still anywhere for up to 2 minutes. I also had abnormal muscle movements, my vision became really bad and blurry, and I was drowsy all the time, especially after taking a dose."

• del...
• January 13, 2014

"I found this medication to cause side effects of swaying while standing up and sometimes rocking back and forth while sitting down. Because this is taken monthly, I am on 150 mg, towards the end of the month, I became unwell and psychotic symptoms reoccurred. Delusional thoughts mainly. I am now going to try Abilify and hope I don't have bad side effects, but I know that without my medication, I would relapse."

• Rob...
• July 13, 2021

"Invega Sustenna was difficult at first. I felt very tired and would get headaches. I believe this was my body adjusting. After a few months, and now on the drug for a few years, I have had a great experience. I still have symptoms once in a while, but not as bad. With the education I was given before taking the drug for my first time, I am now well aware of what a 'symptom' is. I am prepared. The drug Invega Sustenna has only improved my thoughts, speech, and dialect. As I would hear voices, preventing me from speaking clearly, Invega Sustenna has given me the ability to articulate my sentences. When I am ready, I will take either oral tablets or a 3-month injection. I think this will only help my limitations that I keep private. I no longer have headaches. I am no longer fatigued. I am in a good position, and I am proud of the person I am becoming."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2020

"I was first almost forced to take this as an injection at the Mental Health Center. I have been on it for some time but notice it causes way too much anxiety and feeling that I'm afraid of myself. I'm not sure if I was ever supposed to take this at all."

• jod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2016

"This medication is the best antipsychotic I ever took. I'm getting the shot 244 mg, and the delusions and hallucinations are under control. This medicine is a lifesaver. The side effects I experience are anxiety and weight gain, but overall it's a great medicine."

• cno...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2016

"My side effect was like no other side effect I have had. I was leaning to the left no matter what I was doing. Sitting, standing, walking, even driving a car. My 3 boys revoked my license. I really was okay and thankful to them. I am and have been going to a pain clinic for many years because of my back. It only made my back hurt more. Free of mental pain? Free of physical pain? Physical won! My family doctor figured it out. So I guess just watch for anything different, because if there was any good, the bad took it away. That is my opinion. It hurt me more than it helped me. I am very to see how many received help and relief from it."

• Ton...
• June 3, 2017

"Before my psychotic break that turned into a delusional police chase, I was manic, terribly delusional, thought the devil was everywhere I went, thought people were after me, thought the devil controlled electronics and the internet. Just too many bad symptoms, and after receiving the Invega injection, I've been told that I was more outgoing and had absolutely no symptoms. But the side effects suck, such as high prolactin levels, which resulted in low testosterone, anhedonia, and lower emotions."

• Mil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 18, 2017

"I've been taking Invega (all forms) since 2011. I have to say it is a godsend. Risperdal and Abilify gave me sexual dysfunction. This at least allows me to get an erection. It's done a great job at controlling my positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The voices are dulled down to the point of single sentences and like only 1-4 times a day, so it's a lot more manageable in day-to-day life. Started on Sustenna, went on the tablets, and now on Trinza. All versions work very well for me. This medication is the metabolite form of Risperdal, and it's a godsend. It's easier on the liver, and I highly recommend Sustenna and Trinza as the forms to take for schizophrenia/schizoaffective!"

• paz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2015

"My daughter had the injection this month. It stopped her psychosis, still a little paranoia. The first ten days severe pain in neck. Also some dizziness still and balance problems, she says. She took Cogentin for neck. Some relief from the neck now. Another issue from blood test is high prolactin level. We will be seeing her doctor this week. Don't know if side effects are worth it."

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2024

"My brother is on this medication, and I have my brother back. He's only been on it for a few months, but he is not hallucinating or paranoid anymore. He can hold rational conversations and make decisions for himself. Because of the things he did to others and to family members when he was suffering from his mental illness, he is sad that he doesn't have the relationships that he wants. I'm hoping he will accept counseling to begin to repair those relationships."

• Sam...
• December 26, 2017

"Absolutely amazing. Made me back to normal. Before I took the Invega shot, I had extreme paranoia, thinking people wanted to kill me. I thought the government was purposely making it hard for me not to be homeless and literally thought my life was like The Truman Show at some points and that everyone was actors around me and wanted to kill me. Literally, within a day after taking this, my life had changed, and I became myself again before all the medication started."

• Ear...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2022

"Terrible experience. I have slurred speech, head tremors, loss of thought, memory loss, lower IQ, weight gain, and disconnected from reality. I have lost all my friends from not being able to communicate. I shuffle when I walk. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. My family thinks I am mentally impaired. It is hard for me to make eye contact with people as my vision has slowed. I have been off of the 150 mg injection for 2 months and have seen no improvement. If it takes 14 months like the other reviews mention, I don’t know how I’m going to make it."

• jus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 25, 2018

"I have a loved one who had a very long period (over 7 years) where she was unmedicated with active, frightening visual and auditory hallucinations before she was able to receive help. After a 4-month hospitalization and oral antipsychotics, including Zyprexa, she was still totally delusional. After starting community-based treatment, she was started on Invega Sustenna, and within 2 months, she was better than she has been in over 10 years. I was able to see glimpses of who she was before her brain disorder took over her life. She thinks that the shots are like water and they do nothing. Anosognosia (lack of insight) is a very difficult issue with her, so I am beyond pleased with this medication's ability to improve my loved one's life."

• mol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2018

"I've been taking Invega Sustenna for a little over a year now, and for the majority of that year, I had absolutely no positive or negative symptoms. Recently, though, the paranoia and slight delusions have started to creep back into my mind. My psychiatrist upped my dose to 234 mg, and now I can't stop eating, and I'm hungry all the time. I already had a binge eating disorder, but now it's infinitely worse. Also, the newer symptoms are still there. We're currently trying metformin to help with my appetite, but so far it's doing absolutely nothing. I'm now thinking that I want to try switching to ziprasidone. It's supposed to be really good with weight management, but I'm worried it might not be as effective with my mental symptoms? I can't freak out because I'm working and going to school now. Back to Invega, though, I guess I can thank this medication for giving me my life back and making it so I can function in society. But I can't handle the weight gain..."

• Ano...
• March 6, 2019

"This has helped with the symptoms of my illness. There are negative symptoms to it though. Foggy emotions, not sure if it’s because of the illness or the med. I am sort of happy now though, but no sex drive, periods, and gained 75 pounds. I took fluphenazine for a couple of months, lost 20 pounds but felt worse than when I was on Invega."

• one...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 17, 2020

"I dunno... I was on this drug three times for mental health reasons, and I didn't know that these drugs keep you from enjoying the best thing in life, and that's stuffing your face! It takes a lot of experimentation to find the right foods that you can use as comfort foods. Watch out for secrets because if you have an eating disorder, they tweak the meds and try to keep you from committing suicide. The drug just brings on these eating desires. I'm not blaming the medical profession, it pays to have this information BEFORE you start taking this drug. It's more cost-effective to... oh, who am I kidding? I'm an overweight diabetic who can't stand the heat outside or the heat from exercising... be sure the only thing you have is plain water handy because the heat will do that to you... Severe thirst alert!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2023

"I changed to Invega Sustenna because other medications caused weight gain. I was taking 100 mg and 75 mg of Invega Sustenna, and it caused severe depression and made me suicidal. The doctor didn't recognize these to be side effects. I have decreased the dosage to 50 mg now, and I'm still very flat. I find it hard to think, to remember, to find any joy or interest in life. I still get suicidal and am depressed."

• Van...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 12, 2022

"I love Invega. It has helped me with my schizophrenia 100%. No more delusional thoughts and paranoia. No more of this fearful feeling. My life is bright and back to normal. I've been taking it for 2 years. The only side effect I've had is hyperproteinemia. It stopped my periods, had liquid coming out of my breast. You know... symptoms of high prolactin levels. So my doctor put me on Abilify along with a lower dose of Invega Sustenna, and within a month and a half, I had my period and my prolactin went back to normal. I never want to get off this injection because it REALLY took away my mental health problems. I would definitely recommend. Works like a miracle."

• jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 8, 2023

"I’ve been on this for about 6 months, and my biggest side effect is weight gain. I’ve put on 100 lbs. I also have a constant runny nose and can’t stop sneezing in the sun. The medication changes the way I am, the way I think. I’m not as clear-headed, I pace a lot and sometimes have trouble speaking. It has eliminated my hallucinations and delusions."

• Mon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2023

"I feel the 150 mg injection is too high a dose for me, but I do not experience symptoms of schizophrenia on it. The side effects I experience from the medication are high prolactin, sedation, drooling during sleep, palpitations, weight gain, flat affect, and lack of interest in everything, unlike when I was on the 3 mg tablet. I want to return to my lower dose tablet to lose the weight I have gained and to regain the autonomy around taking my medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2023

"So I got real bad pacing problems when I took Invega Sustenna. I couldn't stop walking, even for days straight when I walked all night in my parents' garage. Yeah, they should stop giving this to people. Very glad I came out of that."