Paliperidone and Anxiety: What Users Say

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

Paliperidone 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."

• Any...
• February 1, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "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."

• Dad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I started taking this medication for 3 months after I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and it has ruined my life. I now have trouble speaking, I'm always anxious, I can barely concentrate on anything, I'm depressed and sleeping a lot, and I no longer get erections and have trouble producing semen. I have been off of it for 2 months, and I'm still dealing with the side effects. This is the worst thing I have ever been on, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone."

• Dou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Suffering and miserable on this drug Invega. I take 117mg monthly injections. The frequent side effects I get are thoughtless, emotionless, akathisia, anxiety, a lot of difficulty with memory, focus and concentration like I can't learn much. Unmotivated, I sit around a lot feeling numb and mentally blank. Increased depression, dead sex drive or no interest in sex. Weight gain."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "This drug ruined me. I was fine before after they forced me to take it. I've been unable to write music since, which was what I had a passion for. This drug has made me depressed and given me anxiety, which I was never experiencing before the drug. Beware of this drug, it helps some and can ruin others."

• Dip...
• June 13, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I was admitted to the hospital for depression. But they gave me the Invega Sustenna 234 injection. My mouth became totally numb for 2 months. I could not swallow any solid food. I could not properly talk for 2 full months. Only lived on liquids. Had no energy in my body at all. Only slept and lied down 24 hours. Had no energy even to open the medication bottle. Really felt horrible inside. Felt muscle locks. Literally lived like a zombie for 2 months. Had extreme anxiety and suicidal thoughts. My teeth have moved permanently. Can’t bite or chew the same way anymore. 4 months later, I still don’t feel normal. I feel this injection has ruined my life permanently. I feel there is something wrong with my body organs. I can’t make anybody understand that I just don’t feel normal anymore. I feel chills in my body. Hard to get up in the morning for work. Feel extremely fatigue and depressed. I actually have more issues than what I just described."

• LHH...
• August 3, 2013

Paliperidone for Bipolar Disorder "I had tried Abilify, Fanapt, lithium, Depakote, and Geodon for my bipolar disorder. Luckily, a doctor introduced me to Invega. It helped dramatically with my bipolar issues and alcohol abuse. I have absolutely no problem with my mood since being on this medicine. I'm always happy and am no longer irritable since being on this medicine. I don't have a problem with alcohol abuse anymore and I'm able to drink like a normal person. There are two problems I have with Invega though. The first is that I gained weight dramatically. In 5 months, I gained 50 lbs. Also, I would have random spurts of horrible anxiety. Great medication all in all though."

• Yus...
• December 22, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Gained 40 lbs in two weeks right after taking it. Made me pale (I'm olive complexion). Made anxiety horrible for a few months (could not stop moving around). Messed up sleeping habits for a few months. Stopped my periods for three months in a row. Never had problems with any of these things before taking. Been off for ten months now, just now getting back to close to normal."

• Dar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 24, 2021

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Miserable all the time on these Invega injections from several side effects. I'm mentally blank like poverty in thoughts. I'll sit around a lot staring at TV while mindless. I have no emotions except anxiety and akathisia, which is chronic restlessness. I take Inderal blood pressure medication to treat akathisia. Feel like an emotionless robot going through the motions and barely alive. Poor memory, focus, learning, and concentration. Feel physically numb. Gained 40 pounds. No sex drive and no libido. No interest and motivation to do anything."

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

Paliperidone 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."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• har...
• July 18, 2013

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I was on Risperdal, and I was always sleeping, gained much weight, and craved sugar. When I switched to Invega, my weight went back to normal, suffered few side effects such as restlessness and sometimes anxiety, but it beats those other antipsychotics because of fewer side effects and no weight gain for me. I don't like any of these medicines, but I look like I'm not on any, so far, so good."

• Who...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I'd been smoking a very small amount of cannabis for a few months and isolated myself with video games. One evening, I was playing music very loud, and the police were called. I thought it would be clever to resist arrest, so I stood behind the door and shouted, threatening to burn the house down. They soon broke in and carted me to the mental hospital. After giving my story to the doctor, I was put on Invega shots and told I was schizo, I'd never felt it. After three months, I started having tremors, constant anxiety, a panic feeling of a heart attack, couldn't move, walk, and six months on still on edge 24 hours a day."

• Man...
• September 13, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I've been on Invega Sustenna for 7 years, monthly for the first 6 years and the 7th year Invega Trinza. I've stayed the course with Invega because it calms me down and stops my obsessive thoughts. If I don't take Invega (Trinza or Sustenna), I become anxious, depressed, and suicidal, obsessive, and manic during extreme weather (winter/summer) (I feel better during fall/spring). My original issues are unspecified psychosis/cannabis-induced psychosis. Taking the injection helps me articulate myself clearer, be more rational, and reduces my stress tremendously. I usually clench my jaws like crazy as a full-time worker and student. But, Invega relaxes my mind and the jaw clenching pretty much stops. I am very sick, my thoughts are a burden, and I'm always stressed over little things, mishearing people's voices, and taking offense to things that were never said. But, as I'm on Invega, I've been ignoring these bad thoughts without effort."

• Man...
• September 13, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I've been on Invega Sustenna for 7 years, monthly for the first 6 years and the 7th year Invega Trinza. I've stayed the course with Invega because it calms me down and stops my obsessive thoughts. If I don't take Invega (Trinza or Sustenna), I become anxious, depressed, and suicidal, obsessive, and manic during extreme weather (winter/summer) (I feel better during fall/spring). My original issues are unspecified psychosis/cannabis-induced psychosis. Taking the injection helps me articulate myself clearer, be more rational, and reduces my stress tremendously. I usually clench my jaws like crazy as a full-time worker and student. But, Invega relaxes my mind and the jaw clenching pretty much stops. I am very sick, my thoughts are a burden, and I'm always stressed over little things, mishearing people's voices, and taking offense to things that were never said. But, as I'm on Invega, I've been ignoring these bad thoughts without effort."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2011

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been taking Invega for almost two years. It does wonders for my concentration. I went from being unable to drive, cook, or take care of myself to being able to live a normal life. I work, function normally socially, drive, and pretty much do whatever I want. I didn't notice that the Invega helped much with the depression. I take Effexor for that, and it is great. I spend most of my time being content now, which is wonderful. My biggest complaint about the Invega is that it does nothing to stop the hallucinations. The only side effects I had were blurred vision and orthostatic hypotension (dizziness upon standing). Both went away after 7-10 days. I have to say that the withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant (dizziness, seizures, jitteriness)."

• Ale...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 23, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Since being injected with paliperidone, I have put on weight, from 10 stone to 11. I try to control weight gain, eating next to nothing due to a reduced metabolism. I have lost muscle tone and motivation; I used to be a keen cyclist, artist, photographer, amongst other hobbies, but now (although I have a degree in architecture) my brain is foggy, and I can't even play computer games without feeling anxious from the effort of trying to concentrate. The same applies to reading novels, which I have given up on. Sometimes it scares me when my heart goes very quickly since my jags started. I used to do Michael Jackson impressions, but now I can barely dance at all. My emotions are flat; I rarely cry (the only plus side) and rarely laugh, so my friends say I've become very quiet, especially as my mind is usually emptied by the drug, so I don't contribute much to conversation."

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

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "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

Paliperidone 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."

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

Paliperidone 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."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "So I was first prescribed paliperidone while I was in the hospital, and I was receiving the injection. I believe my first was around the 75 dose, and at the start, things were fine. It was only when they bumped up the dose to 150 that I started to notice some unusual sensations throughout my body. Tingling-like pain started through my legs and arms, and over the months it has gotten worse. Even now, I can still feel pain within my legs, and it annoys the hell out of me. My last shot of this drug was down to 100, and my condition hasn't improved. I don't know what's causing all this pain throughout my body, but it's gotta be the drug. On top of that, I've got really bad anxiety and agitation that is stopping my everyday life, something I haven't had before, which again I blame this drug for. I think people with bipolar should stay away from this drug, it causes a lot of harm if things don't go your way."

• Kev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2018

For Schizophrenia "I've been on the injection for a few months now, and I'm getting terrible anxiety. I'm trying to explain to my family I feel very wired on it, but they don't understand what I'm going through. I can't leave the house since I've been on it. Stay away from this drug if you want to enjoy life. Hopefully, this side effect will go away once I'm off the drug."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• Ibs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I am an ex-boxer, fit, 74 kg. I always had relapses because I fail to take my medication. I had a relapse in September when I was taking risperidone and Invega. I shot up to 84 kg, I am still using it, once every month, dosage been lowered from 200 to 75 mg. I was on my way to becoming successful before I took this medication. I was attractive, fit, and full of testosterone. I had ambitions and dreams, sharp and a role model. Firstly, the medication made me feel like I had brain damage, and I couldn't move or walk. It took a month to be able to move properly again. I feel depressed, dark, stupid, and like I lost a part of myself. I have no emotion, and I can't hold a conversation. I lost confidence and all future hope. I wake up with bad anxieties. But on the good side, I stopped hearing voices and hallucinations. But I would advise you to not take it and instead find an alternative."