Invega Sustenna User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

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

For Schizophrenia "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."

• Mil...
• January 7, 2017

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Took just one 156 mg a month ago (33 days). I was given this by force to control my irritability. I was misdiagnosed as my irritation is caused by a physical condition that I kept mentioning to the doctors who did not listen and said I had mood swings. Unable to get sore from workouts. Have lost muscle tone. Loss of strength and stamina. Constant sore throat and thirst. 0 sexual interest and completely impotent. Heavy increase in urination. Have occasional feeling of a tight band around my head after slight arousal. Rarely some left abdominal pain. Blood AST and ALT levels increased by 30 points. I have noticed my 15-inch arms shrink to 13 inches in just a month. I cannot exercise or pick up weights at all. I am not getting even slightly sore from intense work."

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

For Schizophrenia "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

For Schizophrenia "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."

• BIb...
• December 17, 2015

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Would be an absolutely perfect drug without the side effects. Constant tiredness and dizziness make it almost impossible to work. It definitely has high effects on motor skills and sexual ability. But hallucinations and delusions are gone. No more voices and paranoid thoughts after only a month. It's a good drug if you want to sleep all day."

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

For Schizophrenia "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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was on Invega for almost 2 years. The drug worked, it did what it was supposed to do. I was leading a good life, and my relationship was great for about 2 months. Then the symptoms came, and it was the one symptom a man did not want of all of them. Erectile dysfunction is really a problem for a guy in his late 20s. My girlfriend left me because she thought I was no longer attracted to her. I went without an erection for 18 months and decided to get off the Invega shot, and for about another 6 months I was unable to get an erection still, and I have never been the same since. I've been prescribed 150mg Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, none of them worked for me. I took 2 of the Viagra and nothing. My condition has now gotten worse, and I've become extremely aggressive and irritable since getting off this drug. The worst thing that ever happened to me. I feel we should all file a class action lawsuit for this particular symptom and the damage it has caused to our brains and bodies."

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

For Schizophrenia "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."

• Ble...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Wow, where do I even begin with this horrible drug? About 3 days after I received my injection, I started to experience severe restlessness. I couldn’t sit still and had to constantly move. My sperm was gone. I was literally counting every hour, praying so that the drug's half-life wears out (which is 1 month, so you can imagine how torturous that was). I couldn’t think straight, I was only focused on counting the hours. I had no pleasure in doing anything. I literally got turned into a vegetable that you see in movies about psychiatric patients. PLEASE, only try this drug AFTER you tried other antipsychotics that proved to not work. Stay healthy."

• Hir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 9, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Invega 156 mg every three weeks has been good to me. I no longer have voices, and I am able to maintain my weight. I don’t menstruate, that’s a negative. I can’t drive or work, get out of the house by myself because of agoraphobia caused by Invega, as I suspect. I don’t have anxiety, that’s a plus, no panic attacks, that’s a plus."

• mim...
• January 22, 2015

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on Invega Sustenna now for 4 months. It has been a great medication, but I started to have small facial movements, but I'm afraid it might increase. I will ask my doctor to reduce the dosage so I might not have side effects."

• Gsu...
• March 27, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on Haldol, Aristada, Zyprexa, and Invega, and so far, these medications just give your brain time to heal, not actually heal your disorder. They help manage your symptoms. So far, I've had delusions, hallucinations, and voices. Invega may be harmful, but when you have schizophrenia like me, you have to be on something. So far, Invega helps the most but has the worst side effects, it works kind of like that. I advise taking it over the ones I mentioned for me personally."

• MiG...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 23, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Invega Sustenna will make it easier to take your medication, as it’s an every 4-week shot in the arm (or butt). However, the side effects are many. This drug, though stopped all hallucinations and mania, caused my skin to flake, my face to get puffy, my overall weight to increase by 40 lbs, incurred symptoms of depression and other personality changes, and lastly, caused me to sleep for hours on end. If you enjoy sleeping your life away, this is the drug for you. However, I myself miss living my full life!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Best medication if you get the right dose that works for you. I went from being miserable on this drug to 'this is the best medication I’ve ever been on.' It only took 8 years with trial and error and giving this med another try. I still can’t do as much as I could before the illness set in, but my motivation and joy have returned. I never thought recovery was going to be possible, now filled with hope for the future. Don’t give up, it’s worth the fight!"

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2023

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia in the psych ward and was given two shots of Invega Sustenna on November 4th. It is now January 26th, and I’ve been off this drug for two months but am still suffering from side effects. I have no pleasure during sex, no thoughts, and am super tired. This drug has ruined my life. I hope it doesn't take too much longer till I can feel like my old self."

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Update: it’s been almost a week since my first shot of Invega. Here is my assessment. After a day or two, very sore arm where the injection happened. Been very sleepy and lethargic, but the body couldn’t sit still. Very vivid dreams. Also, I haven’t had much let-up in my delusions, voices, or mania. It’s just right now I don’t have the energy to do much about them. Due for the next shot in 3 days. I’m finally starting to not feel as tired, and the arm is starting to not be as sore, but not 100% yet. Hoping this next shot will help with the above-mentioned things (mania, paranoia, etc.). I’ll keep you updated."

• Sam...
• December 26, 2017

For Schizophrenia "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

For Schizophrenia "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."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 7, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I don't know why they started me on 156 mg, but I couldn't think straight on such a high dose, and I was sleeping 16 hours a day. Zero libido, dizzy spells, acne, plus 50 pounds of weight gain. I lowered my injection 3 times to now 39 mg, the lowest dose. Less acne, still fat, still zero libido, but less dizzy. The benefit was that I have zero delusions."

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

For Schizophrenia "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."

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

For Schizophrenia "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."

• Din...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2023

For Schizoaffective Disorder "The worst medicine. I had a radical weight gain, 60 lbs gained in 3 months. I felt depressed while on it. I’ve been off for 2 and a half years and still haven’t gotten back to my normal weight, although I’ve lost 22 pounds."

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

For Schizophrenia "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..."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 24, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I take 75 mg of the Invega Sustenna, and it has given me my life back. I’ve gained 40 lbs over the last 5 years on it. But I don’t mind as long as I have stability. No mania. No psychosis. I feel amazing. I had severe anxiety on the Invega Trinza, but went back to Sustenna, and that went away. I feel great!"

• Dou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I took 6 shots of Invega (for bipolar), so it is for 6 months now. Talking about symptoms of mania and depression, they have disappeared, I am not experiencing any of the symptoms. On the other hand, this drug has played with my cognition. Since I took my first injection, my concentration went down, I barely focus in my classes. My long and short-term memory has been poor. I have tiredness and sleep for long hours. I have a lack of thoughts and new ideas, especially when talking to people, I can't find words to say. This drug has a positive side and a negative side, there I will discuss with my psychiatrist to change the dose or change the medication."