Paliperidone and Restlessness: What Users Say

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I got diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar in the hospital. I was taking risperidone which was helping me a lot, but then I started taking Invega. This medicine has ruined me. All of the things that I've loved doing now suck. I was on it for 4 months, but I've been off of it for 3 months now and I'm still dealing with side effects. I can't sit still or lay still. I'm always tired, my tongue is always numb, my speech is off. I can't have a simple conversation, I can't sleep at night. I hate waking up in the morning, my thoughts are all confusing, and I feel weak. My body is really sensitive...I just miss the old me."

• 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."

• dar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 7, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "It's called Xeplion here in the UK. I had a bad 4 months on 100 mg for psychosis. I had akathisia and felt severely depressed, so I went onto 75 mg, and the difference 4 months down the line has been phenomenal. It was an instant difference when I got my fourth month jab. It has made my head feel lighter and improved my ability to think. Akathisia has been and gone, and I no longer have any movement side effects. It has eliminated my psychosis, eased my anxiety, and overall improved the quality of my life. I'm extremely thankful to be on this medication."

• bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 23, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on this drug Invega Sustenna for the last 5 years. I've gained 65 lbs, I'm 5'4" tall. I'm restless, have liver problems, memory problems. I don't know which symptoms it is treating. I do not hallucinate. I originally got diagnosed with bipolar disorder 23 years ago because I could not sleep at night. This drug is horrible, and there are no benefits from it."

• MDJ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "This is a terrible drug. In four days, I've had heart palpitations, wheezing, shakes, insomnia, aggression, restlessness. Horrible drug for schizophrenics. I interacted more with my voices due to insomnia and headaches. I had to call the suicide crisis line because I had a panic attack so severe on night 4 of taking this poison."

• 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."

• pel...
• July 15, 2015

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I was on Risperdal for 3 years. I switched to Invega just over a month ago and am already losing a good deal of weight. I do sometimes get restless, but I accept this as the price for not sleeping 17 hours a day on Risperdal. My appetite is normal, and I don't eat huge portions anymore. My energy is up, and I can actually feel emotions fully again for the first time in a long, long time. Would recommend giving this a try to anyone - just remember some people get different side effects. For me, this also took away sexual side effects that were limiting my relationships."

• cop...
• February 20, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine wrecked me. I had a drug-induced psychosis, they had no business putting me on this. The only positive is that it did snap me back into reality, but some clean time would have done that. I have gained weight all in my stomach. I developed akathisia that lasted 2 months after discontinuing. Also, extreme anhedonia, which can persist for up to a year. I hope I return to normal way before that. Please only attempt this med if you don't know which way is up."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2023

Paliperidone "I have bipolar disorder and Invega Sustenna ruined my life. I was given the injection 2 years ago, and I am still not back to being who I was before completely. Don’t lose hope that it can happen, but it is a long journey. I was told it was more effective and more convenient than taking pills, but it left me feeling like a zombie, a vegetable. I felt a restlessness in my whole body, I couldn’t be still, but moving didn’t seem to relieve it either. It stopped my period, and I do not know if I am still fertile. My mind was blocked, I couldn’t think of words or make conversation or laugh. All I wanted to do was sleep and eat, and I gained 50 lbs. I lost all joy in my life and was in the worst depression I’ve ever experienced. I spent almost two years on my mother’s couch. I couldn’t cry, and I couldn’t write anymore. I didn’t want to be around my friends or my family. It does wear off eventually, but it was a huge mistake that I was told was a miracle drug. Do not take this drug."

• 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."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 23, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "This drug did completely get rid of the voices in my head and the delusions, it also helped with my physical health a little bit. I had a colon problem, which led me to smell very bad all the time, but now I smell like a normal human being after the first few months of being on the injection. Also, my sleep is great. I will say that weight gain is to be expected, this drug will give you an uncontrollable appetite and will probably cause you to gain 40-60 lbs within 6 months. I have also experienced trouble with speech, and I feel a little less smart in general. This drug has caused me to have akathisia, I simply cannot sit still or stand still. My vision has seemed to be affected as well, when I don't eat for a while, or when I eat too much, or when I exercise, I seem to get black shadows in the corners of my eyes or blurred vision. Overall, this drug is beneficial for people with schizophrenia, but it will cause weight gain and a few other side effects."

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was misdiagnosed and given Invega Sustenna for about 8 months, starting on 150 mg every 4 weeks and ending at 37.5 mg. This medication is a nightmare! I'm off it now for 2 months and still no relief from severe anhedonia, loss of joy and happiness, no orgasm, restlessness. Anyone can help? Is there any successful story of getting off this horrible drug?"

• Ano...
• June 5, 2018

For Schizophrenia "On a high dose, it was worse. But, even on a low dose, I experienced poverty of thought, slow movement and thinking, not being able to memorize anything, not being able to think creatively, a huge IQ drop, inability to learn new things, muscle cramps, a weight gain of over 30 kg, akathisia, loss of periods, breasts sagging and becoming heavy and lactating, muscle seemingly wasted away, swelling in my feet and legs (possibly edema), extremely high levels of prolactin in my blood (over 1,700 MUI), lack of motivation, infection in the site of injection, high cholesterol, difficulty absorbing nutrients, suicidal ideation, stretch marks, flat affect in my face, emotions flat like a zombie with no happiness or pleasure, and more. I have stopped taking the drug for about four months now, but I still experience side effects, including loss of period. I'm only 27 years old, but I'm worried the drugs have made me permanently infertile."

• som...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2023

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "It made me feel akathisia along with insomnia, erectile dysfunction, and anhedonia. It was useful for the positive symptoms like paranoia, delusions, and racing thoughts, but at huge costs. You are basically trading a huge portion of your own happiness and energy for controlling your symptoms and likely never becoming psychotic again. I am not saying it is totally bad, but it can work for some people. This is your decision to make, with Invega, you will suffer some serious side effects in return for never becoming psychotic again."

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

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "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."

• Vic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Invega injections stopped my period at age 46, that was three years ago. My prolactin levels are high, but the doctor is not concerned. My liver enzymes are high as well. I gained 55 pounds. I can't stand still, I'm restless. My short-term memory is bad. I can't work. I asked the doctor to wean me off the medication, but he refuses. I am on a Community Treatment Order, which forces me to be medicated. I stopped the medication many times and ended up in the hospital. I have to hire a lawyer to get off the Community Treatment Order."

• Inv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Yeah, it controlled my hallucinations, but at what cost? This drug should not be prescribed to anyone, especially young males. Literal chemical castration. Invega robbed me of my erections, sex drive, and sperm. When I ejaculate, nothing comes out. High prolactin and low T levels. My memory is awful, with no pleasure in doing anything at all. Restlessness, brain fog, no thoughts or emotions. This injection will leave you bedridden. Literally, all I do is lay down and hope for the day to pass by fast nowadays. My depression got a lot worse on this drug. Stay far away."

• Uni...
• March 9, 2021

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "It started off OK. I had the feeling of the urge to talk all the time, but then I started to feel confined and restless. That went on for months but went away. It was going well until it raised my prolactin. I went on meds for that, and after a year, I'm back to normal. I have to get off because my glucose test is borderline, but I'm having diabetic symptoms. The pros were I get the tense edginess feeling in my body went away. I slept better. I didn't think everyone was out to get me. Social anxiety went down."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "This drug ruined my life and took all of my joy from me, turning me into an emotionless, uninterested, depressed person. The side effects are deep depression, apathy, severe anhedonia, severe lack of motivation, restlessness, tooth decay, muscle spasms, random pains, heart pain, muscle tension, and there’s probably more that I’m forgetting. I used to be happy and have lots of interest, now I have no interest in anything and am depressed and suicidal."

• 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."

• tir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Side effects experienced: diarrhea, dyspepsia, asthenia, fatigue, hypotension, agitation, insomnia, hyperactivity, restlessness, increased weight, increased appetite, akathisia, headache, sedation, muscle aches, back pain. Benefits of the medication: less mania, reduced hyperactivity."

• tir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 20, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Side effects experienced: diarrhea, dyspepsia, asthenia, fatigue, hypotension, agitation, insomnia, hyperactivity, restlessness, increased weight, increased appetite, akathisia, headache, sedation, muscle aches, back pain. Benefits of the medication: less mania, reduced hyperactivity."

• Che...
• April 11, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I feel in some ways I have been made into a vegetable. I feel my life is basically over. I was put on this for bipolar disorder and Asperger's. I used to have so much energy. It has reduced me to like a fraction of the person I used to be, and it’s messy and unpleasant. Invega has ruined my life, and I feel it has given me permanent brain damage. I have insomnia. I lay on the bed a lot, and I sit down a lot. I shuffle a lot. I have akathisia and catatonia. My hands are crippled, my hair is ruined, it is so thin and falls out. Please don’t let anyone you love start Invega. If you are looking for the worst time of your life, this is the medication for you!"

• Loo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For Depression "This drug gave me akathisia, it caused me to be basically bedridden, and the symptoms have not yet gone away 2 months after taking it. I'm scared this thing will never end. Do NOT take this drug unless you want to feel like an emotionless zombie that can't stop moving about."

• ter...
• January 13, 2016

For Schizophrenia "I have been on paliperidone for about a year now. The side effects I have are that I get a lot of nightmares and bad dreams, which I never had before. I do a lot of rocking backwards and forwards every time I sit down, which is really upsetting and annoying. I have a lot of restlessness. I find it difficult to settle and do things. In terms of sleep, this medication is good. I have energy, at least. I have tried other medications and had side effects as well. I am having this medication reduced and eventually will be off antipsychotic drugs. I am sick of the side effects. Clozapine made me sick all the time and sleepy. Another medication I was on caused blurred vision. Sick of the side effects. I'd rather take the risk of having a relapse."