Invega Sustenna and Depression: What Users Say

• Dol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I got this shot by doctors that had no clue, and I had no idea what I got. This shot gave me lower IQ, worse memory, slower thinking, loss of emotions, depression, high level of prolactin, erectile dysfunction, no sperm at all, and also anxiety. My memory used to be extremely good, and I had high IQ, but now I have a hard time remembering things, and my IQ dropped significantly on IQ tests. I'm going to report them to the police and file a lawsuit. All of this by a shot I shouldn't have gotten at all. Ban it, please, and don't let others go through the same hell as I did."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 17, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was prescribed Invega Sustenna on my 5th hospital stay for bipolar and schizoaffective episodes. I wasn’t responding to the oral medications, and I have compliance issues with taking oral meds anyway. Like most people who have already commented, my experience with this drug has been horrible. Yes, it stopped the hallucinations, but it has robbed me of my emotions. I feel flat all the time, I gained weight, my hair fell out, I lost my sex drive and my ability to orgasm. I have anhedonia and avolition, I cannot socialize anymore, I can barely contribute to a conversation, I’m barely caring for myself (not cooking, not cleaning)... I am like a child. This medication is terrible in my opinion, I would not recommend it. I’d rather live with the occasional hallucination than all of the side effects Invega has caused."

• Rem...
• October 14, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I took 6 injections over a 6-month period. I didn't notice much in the first couple of months. It helped with the paranoia, I still heard voices to a lesser extent. Around the 5th month, I had noticed I gained 50 lbs (115 to 165). It happened so rapidly. I also began to lactate. That was all horrible, but the worst of it was the severe anhedonia. They wanted to slowly taper me off the injection, but I refused to take any more after the 6-month period. I felt mentally slower. I got no pleasure from listening to music or watching TV. I stopped laughing. This is just my personal experience, but if you look up this medicine, you will find there are many people who have gone through a similar experience. It's been 14 months since my last injection, and I think I have mentally fully recovered. I think this drug is too potent. I am almost certain it gave me some sort of brain damage. One of the biggest regrets of my life is taking this drug, I was better off before."

• Bae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Where do I start with the side effects of Invega Sustenna? Sexual dysfunction, yes, my penis is useless, I feel like a 2-year-old. I have severe anhedonia (loss of pleasure), I have put on 20 kg, I sleep for 11-12 hours a day, and just overall feel terrible. My memory is horrible, I’m depressed, and I just feel like I am not living some days. Whatever you do, do not take this drug. Other antipsychotic drugs are better, they don’t all have the same effects, so just try aiming elsewhere."

• Bae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Where do I start with the side effects of Invega Sustenna? Sexual dysfunction, yes, my penis is useless, I feel like a 2-year-old. I have severe anhedonia (loss of pleasure), I have put on 20 kg, I sleep for 11-12 hours a day, and just overall feel terrible. My memory is horrible, I’m depressed, and I just feel like I am not living some days. Whatever you do, do not take this drug. Other antipsychotic drugs are better, they don’t all have the same effects, so just try aiming elsewhere."

• Blk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Schizophrenia "The one positive effect of this drug (Invega Sustenna 150 mg every 4 weeks) is that it controls my hallucinations and delusions. But the trade-off is really hard to bear. I’ve lost all the joy in my life, the anhedonia is so bad that I have to live in a constant state of pretending to be happy because I am now unable to feel any kind of happiness or pleasure, especially from activities I once enjoyed very much. I can’t recall things and my memories have evaporated. I feel blunted and flat all the time. I can’t function in a meaningful way, and feel more depressed than I ever have in my life. I’ve gained lots of weight, lost muscle tone, yet I feel agitated like I want to jump out of my skin all the time. Being on this medication is a living nightmare. I am 43 and feel like life has come to a screeching halt."

• Blk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Schizophrenia "The one positive effect of this drug (Invega Sustenna 150 mg every 4 weeks) is that it controls my hallucinations and delusions. But the trade-off is really hard to bear. I’ve lost all the joy in my life, the anhedonia is so bad that I have to live in a constant state of pretending to be happy because I am now unable to feel any kind of happiness or pleasure, especially from activities I once enjoyed very much. I can’t recall things and my memories have evaporated. I feel blunted and flat all the time. I can’t function in a meaningful way, and feel more depressed than I ever have in my life. I’ve gained lots of weight, lost muscle tone, yet I feel agitated like I want to jump out of my skin all the time. Being on this medication is a living nightmare. I am 43 and feel like life has come to a screeching halt."

• Fra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Do not take this medicine. So far, I have lost all my ambition, energy, personality, and my emotions. I am tired all the time and have random muscle spasms all through my body. It makes it really hard to feel things, I feel like I have to try to feel things. It's really weird. I have been taking the injection for six months now, and I'm a complete zombie. I have no social life, sex drive, or imagination. This medicine destroys the human body, it is poison and needs to be discontinued. I'd much rather hear voices and hallucinate than be on this medication."

• Jid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 9, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was misdiagnosed due to an incident. Ever since I got this injection, I’ve been feeling less of myself. I’ve gained weight, at least 90 lbs, no emotion, barely sleep at night (5 hours), foggy mind, can’t think, bad concentration, less dopamine, shortness of breath, no creativity, and no personality. What’s the point of having a medicine that has worse side effects than the problem?"

• NKa...
• November 18, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "At first, it didn't seem that bad taking Invega. I got the shot once a month. I was in the psych ward for paranoia and delusions. Hallucinations had subsided. They told me they would hold me at the V.A. for four months if I didn't take the shot. They used psychological manipulation to get me to 'agree.' Six months later, I'm 60 lbs overweight, depressed, and tired beyond belief. All I want to do is lay down and close my eyes. Today I woke up about 11:00 a.m., got out of bed for an hour, went and laid back down till about 4 p.m., then got up to make myself something to eat, then laid down till 6, got up for another hour, then right back to bed. This is my daily routine on this nightmarish drug. I'm taking one class in school and can't afford to withdraw off of it right now, but in a month I will graduate and finally get off this terrible drug forever. It makes me want to do nothing in life, nor could I work taking this medication. It has ruined a year of my life. I'd rather have symptoms."

• Mor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 29, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "While the Invega Sustenna negated my psychosis, I have experienced anhedonia and lactation due to raised prolactin levels. I can't enjoy music or anything else for that matter. I also now have a tic where I have to move my mouth, I don't know if it's medication-related. I get my period once every three months and have lowered sexual pleasure. I feel like this drug took any enjoyment out of life, and I'd rather be on something else as my symptoms are not severe and Invega is not good."

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Horrible drug, causes weight gain. I call it the '15 lbs shot', with every shot, I gained another 15 lbs. My hallucinations went into overdrive, I could not sleep, depressed, angry, overweight, psychotic, hated every day. I am now seeing a new psychiatrist, and I am getting my life back without the Invega Sustenna injection."

• Coq...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 24, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I took Invega Sustenna for a year and a half. I was forced on it by my old mental hospital, and the family member I was living with told me I had to stay on Invega to live with this person. I got a 234 mg shot once a month for a year and a half. This drug completely ruined my life. It is absolute garbage for anyone's body. I went from 170 pounds to 300 pounds within this time frame (this is literally the most weight I had ever gained in my entire LIFE.) It turned me into a complete couch potato, made me so lazy and tired that I had to drink at least 3 cups of coffee a day to counter this problem. It completely destroyed my motivation for doing ANYTHING throughout my day. I sat around eating junk food, but also healthy food. Regardless of what I ate, I would gain 10 pounds every single month. I am really tired of the USA and its doctors promoting these awful 'medications' to sick people as if they are good options. There was zero benefit to using Invega, do NOT take this drug."

• Inv...
• February 28, 2018

For Schizophrenia "Warning: this shot will destroy your life. I only had 1 shot, the 234 mg. I dropped out of school, became depressed. It's been 3 years, and I still suffer from absence of emotion. It doesn't sound like much, but trust me, life becomes empty without emotions. In some cultures, hallucinations are a sign from beyond. People that can hear or see things will often become shamans, medicine men, or healers. I highly recommend meditation and/or seeing someone that is an energy healer."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 14, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Okay, let me get started. Every social worker, psychologist, and mental health doctor shouldn't prescribe this drug to anyone. It is harmful in so many ways. I took it for 1-2 years because they said I had bad schizophrenia. I did not have bad anything except a drug issue, which they already knew as they had tested my urine, but they didn't take that into consideration. If you take this drug, you will sleep away your life. You will lose your train of thought every 5 sentences. You will probably have a 75% chance of losing your job in a fast-paced environment. When you take this drug, you will lose muscles, goals, and cause you to get depressed."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2021

For Schizophrenia "DON'T GIVE UP. I have autism, Asperger's, ADHD, PTSD, OCD. I am an artistic recluse with an IQ in the top 1%. I am terrified of doctors, nurses, and hospitals. I was sleepy and tearful. They noted two facts and said I was delusional and deprived me of my freedom. I had two injections without a formal diagnosis. The first caused anxiety, depression, insomnia, agitation, and hypervigilance. My second in my arm caused extreme pain in my neck, slurred speech, frequent drooling, constant pain at the base of my skull, blood in urine, swelling of my ankles and face, extreme physical fatigue, and sleeping 15 hours a day. I forgot what I was saying, was unable to spell, and was curled in a ball, shaking with fear. A few months ago, I wanted to swim out into the ocean at sunrise, but I read these stories and knew I just had to wait. I did everything I should as a discipline. I ate though I had to force the food down. I cried for the person I knew I had been-optimistic, resilient, creative, and productive. It destroyed me beyond repair. I may never trust a human being again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 10, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I have been on Invega Sustenna for almost 2 years for schizophrenia. I’ve stuck with Invega Sustenna for so long because it is the second-best option in terms of side effects (definitely not saying that it is a good drug). I have erectile dysfunction, insomnia, feeling of mental pain and loneliness, extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, worsened vision, and short-term memory loss from this medication (all of the medications, in fact). I’m showering about once a month, brushing teeth about twice a week, and never exercising because I physically can’t do better on this medication. I used to shower and brush teeth daily in addition to having a six-pack (abs). This medication is another antipsychotic that was marketed without care for how the patients feel physically or mentally while taking it. In short, current antipsychotics do work, but the side effects are unbearable."

• Ken...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2023

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug has affected my personality and my ability to sleep restfully, causing me to have constantly bizarre dreams. I find myself speechless and unable to hold a conversation. My legs and entire body feel like they are crawling inside, and I feel the need to pace the room. Since starting this medication 6 months ago, I have had to move back in with my parents at the age of 36. I take the 156 mg dose for schizoaffective disorder, but the recommended dose for schizophrenia is 117 mg. I believe I am overmedicated, and this has caused me to have no emotions and no life. I don't like how this makes me feel, and I wish I could stop taking it."

• tk9...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 14, 2023

For Schizophrenia "This medication has turned me into a couch potato. Most of my life, I have been a fit and physically active person, but since I have been given this medication, I have been struggling to get the energy to do anything. It took away my motivation in life, and I have become numb emotionally. It does help with my symptoms a bit, but there has to be better medication out there than this."

• tk9...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 14, 2023

For Schizophrenia "This medication has turned me into a couch potato. Most of my life, I have been a fit and physically active person, but since I have been given this medication, I have been struggling to get the energy to do anything. It took away my motivation in life, and I have become numb emotionally. It does help with my symptoms a bit, but there has to be better medication out there than this."

• Dus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "When taking Invega Sustenna, you have either no emotions some days, or it's out of control-literally laughing, crying, and anger. Also, if you're like me, you can't hardly sit down, makes me move a whole bunch."

• Dud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on Invega Sustenna for about 6 months. I feel like a zombie. I have no emotions, I feel flat. I have no motivation to do anything. I sleep 11 to 12 hours a night. I feel very tired all the time, and I have anhedonia (lack of pleasure). Don't take this medication. It will steal your soul. You won't want to do anything. I would rather have my symptoms than be on this. I'm going to talk to my doctor about getting off this."