Paliperidone and Depression: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Dra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was prescribed injections with Invega Paliperidone after I was diagnosed for being 'a little weird car thing' or something like that while one Dr. insisted it was a psychosis after telling I had heard confusing language. Besides lethargy and severe depression and feeling really awful all the time, Paliperidone causes a constant, jittery, torturous agitation, which made it impossible to sit still or work or do anything at all, really, besides chain-smoking and walking around like a zombie. Akathisia is a severe side effect of antipsychotics that can be mistakenly diagnosed as a mental illness. Invega made it impossible to experience pleasure from or care about anything at all. Side effects of antipsychotics are much worse than as they are described by doctors and on the internet and actually cause psychiatric symptoms. Giving antipsychotics through injections, sometimes lasting for months, is inhumane. Recent article: called Coming Off Psych Drugs Harm Reduction Guide."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Cons: Invega increased my 'prolactin hormone' 5 times more than the maximum level. Thus, I lost my menstrual cycle for more than one year, sexual dysfunction, depression, sleep disturbances, etc. This drug also lowered my metabolism. As a result, I experienced food coma (falling into deep sleep) after eating food. It also increased my blood sugar. I gained 20 kg in 8 months. Tremor was another side effect of Invega. I was on a 100 mg injection. But, I had no delusion with it!"

• Kpa...
• April 1, 2021

"Where do I begin, extreme fatigue, weight gain, depression that has lasted over a year (ever since I have been on it). I feel extremely numb and emotionless on this medication, find it nearly impossible to laugh or to smile. Tired all the time, sleep for hours. I feel like nothing will make me happy, I'll be happy once it's out of my system, that's for sure. Worst drug I have ever been on, extremely sick of the way I am."

• Zoe...
• August 15, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I got sectioned in Manchester, England, June 2018. I was prescribed paliperidone injection 100 mg. It has stopped all the delusions/paranoia. But it has caused me to have severe depression, no motivation, no joy from doing things I used to enjoy, and difficulties holding a conversation because of flat emotions. I wouldn’t recommend this drug for depression, as it made mine worse. But it did stop all the delusions/paranoia. I’m going to start 75 mg of the medication venlafaxine for my depression soon, so hopefully that will work alongside this medication."

• Zoe...
• August 15, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I got sectioned in Manchester, England, June 2018. I was prescribed paliperidone injection 100 mg. It has stopped all the delusions/paranoia. But it has caused me to have severe depression, no motivation, no joy from doing things I used to enjoy, and difficulties holding a conversation because of flat emotions. I wouldn’t recommend this drug for depression, as it made mine worse. But it did stop all the delusions/paranoia. I’m going to start 75 mg of the medication venlafaxine for my depression soon, so hopefully that will work alongside this medication."

• Zoe...
• August 15, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I got sectioned in Manchester, England, June 2018. I was prescribed paliperidone injection 100 mg. It has stopped all the delusions/paranoia. But it has caused me to have severe depression, no motivation, no joy from doing things I used to enjoy, and difficulties holding a conversation because of flat emotions. I wouldn’t recommend this drug for depression, as it made mine worse. But it did stop all the delusions/paranoia. I’m going to start 75 mg of the medication venlafaxine for my depression soon, so hopefully that will work alongside this medication."

• Sim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 21, 2023

"It makes me depressed and suicidal and doesn't do anything good. It affects me every second in the way I feel. The way I sleep is more light and not as good. I have put on weight, and listening to music isn't enjoyable anymore, and when I sleep, I can't lie in because it ruins it. I hate this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 11, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I am on the injection, not sure what mg, but I get it every 3 months. It's been almost a year, and I have gained 40 lbs. I have frequent heartburn, and my cholesterol is high. My feelings are flat, so I don't overreact to things as I used to. And no depression. Sometimes I have very vivid dreams and nightmares. Most days I have no motivation, but some days I have excess energy to get everything done that I need to. I haven't had a menstrual cycle since I started this medication. It has kept the mania and psychosis away, though. And other than all those side effects I listed, I am grateful for this medication. I was one who would miss doses or stop taking my medication altogether and have almost ruined my life several times. Even with all those side effects, I would rather be on Invega than not. It has saved my life."

• unk...
• May 1, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Invega made me gain at least 20 pounds. I'm sure it helped with something, but I gradually lowered it from 6 to 3 and now recently stopped completely. Hoping to lose the weight after... still get depressed."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug makes me severely depressed and unhappy. I have lost interest in everything and everyone. I don’t feel any good, and each day is a struggle. I now have broken relationships. Please avoid this drug and take another antipsychotic."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug makes me severely depressed and unhappy. I have lost interest in everything and everyone. I don’t feel any good, and each day is a struggle. I now have broken relationships. Please avoid this drug and take another antipsychotic."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug makes me severely depressed and unhappy. I have lost interest in everything and everyone. I don’t feel any good, and each day is a struggle. I now have broken relationships. Please avoid this drug and take another antipsychotic."

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

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "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."

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

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "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."

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

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "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."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2023

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was diagnosed with schizophrenia following a mental episode that occurred after taking flavonoid pills. I was prescribed asenapine, which worked well, but without my consent, I was admitted to a hospital for a week, which they referred to as 'therapy.' Shortly before or after leaving the hospital, I was put on paliperidone, which resulted in a series of negative effects including memory loss, lack of motivation and passion, inability to communicate emotions, and sexual dysfunction. Additionally, I remained paranoid while feeling numb. I eventually stopped taking the medication, but relapsed after taking it again, experiencing even worse symptoms such as heart pain, rigid bones, worsened paranoia, and a lack of motivation. Both times, I thought I would die, and I feel fortunate to have made it past the age of 18. I refused to continue taking the medication after discussing it with my mother, but the doctors continued to keep me on it and misled me when I asked about discontinuing use."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I get a monthly injection. I've been on this for 3 months, but I am going to get this stopped. It's made me gain 30 lbs. I have no motivation. I don't enjoy music, films, crafts, or anything. All I do is lie around and eat chocolate. It is as if my brain is stuck. I'm impatient, restless. I'm bored constantly. It has stopped my hallucinations, and voices are no longer there. But I feel I won't have any if I come off it now. I don't know. I'm agitated. I feel useless."

• Cra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on Invega 234 injection for over 7 months. I do the injection every 3 weeks. It has helped with the auditory and visual hallucinations but am unsure of the mood effects. Definitely more depressed, and my anxiety has gotten much worse, but after I get the shot, it seems to get better. I have been hospitalized every month with multiple depressive problems after taking this medication and am now convinced that it is possible that this medication could be the cause. I am now going to try to figure out if this medication is worth being on or whether I should stay on it."

• Dai...
• March 29, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug makes me severely depressed and unhappy. I have lost interest in everything and everyone. I don’t feel any good, and each day is a struggle. I now have broken relationships. Please avoid this drug and take another antipsychotic."

• Dai...
• March 29, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug makes me severely depressed and unhappy. I have lost interest in everything and everyone. I don’t feel any good, and each day is a struggle. I now have broken relationships. Please avoid this drug and take another antipsychotic."

• Liv...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I started on the 360 mg dose of Trinza Invega. I became severely depressed. I lacked ambition and motivation. I used to be very witty and could make people laugh and could talk up a storm. Ever since I started taking paliperidone, I feel a lot more dull and less eccentric and interesting. With all of that aside, though, it does take away the voices and paranoia. I got my medication reduced from 360 mg to 260 mg, and it's made a difference in my personality and mood. I have an easier time holding a conversation now, and I have a little bit of motivation and ambition. I still wish I never had mental illness so I could be my normal self without the medication. Overall, I'm happy I'm not psychotic anymore."

• Liv...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I started on the 360 mg dose of Trinza Invega. I became severely depressed. I lacked ambition and motivation. I used to be very witty and could make people laugh and could talk up a storm. Ever since I started taking paliperidone, I feel a lot more dull and less eccentric and interesting. With all of that aside, though, it does take away the voices and paranoia. I got my medication reduced from 360 mg to 260 mg, and it's made a difference in my personality and mood. I have an easier time holding a conversation now, and I have a little bit of motivation and ambition. I still wish I never had mental illness so I could be my normal self without the medication. Overall, I'm happy I'm not psychotic anymore."

• kol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug stopped my positive symptoms of schizophrenia but increased negative symptoms. I felt numb, severely depressed. Felt nothing was worthwhile. Couldn't motivate myself to do hardly anything. Put on 3 stone in two years. Couldn't produce sperm. Developed breasts. Had sky-high levels of prolactin. The depressive state has subsided since taking 5-HTP 400 mg. Not sure if this is a contraindication while on paliperidone, which blocks dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission."

• dmp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I am suing the makers of paliperidone Invega Sustenna. I have been injected twice quite some time ago. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for 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, or 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."