Paliperidone and Tiredness: 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."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I'm so depressed on Invega that I cry multiple times a day, can't maintain any friendships, too tired and demotivated to work out or play my guitar like I used to. I lay in my bed every day, no motivation for anything."

• Eth...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "So, I was high energy and a lovely person before taking this drug. After my second shot of 234mg, I became so tired and depressed like all the life had been sucked out of me. No longer bubbly and energetic, I would just lie down all day with no energy to move. Very sad. Very, very sad."

• Eth...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "So, I was high energy and a lovely person before taking this drug. After my second shot of 234mg, I became so tired and depressed like all the life had been sucked out of me. No longer bubbly and energetic, I would just lie down all day with no energy to move. Very sad. Very, very sad."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have felt very tired and just lethargic and lost interest in the Bible, which I once loved with a great passion. No one will take me at my word, and I have tried to get off this medication, but the doctor and my family won't let me even after I told them how much I don't like it. I have no periods, have high prolactin, and hand tremors in my right hand. Feel like sleeping all the time and would do anything to stop taking this medication. It is poison and should be taken off the market and never given to anyone. I'd rather hear voices than feel like I do on this medication."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have felt very tired and just lethargic and lost interest in the Bible, which I once loved with a great passion. No one will take me at my word, and I have tried to get off this medication, but the doctor and my family won't let me even after I told them how much I don't like it. I have no periods, have high prolactin, and hand tremors in my right hand. Feel like sleeping all the time and would do anything to stop taking this medication. It is poison and should be taken off the market and never given to anyone. I'd rather hear voices than feel like I do on this medication."

• Tom...
• December 5, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I had a psychotic episode from drug use. They made me take an injection, and I feel like it was the worst drug possible. I honestly can't explain how bad the side effects are. You get a weird smell, irregular heartbeat, no energy, no sex drive, and you feel dizzy all the time. I am off of it now, and I am hoping I can feel better again."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• NKa...
• November 18, 2019

Paliperidone 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."

• Jun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "If you want your life back and want to finally quit hearing the voices, believing the delusions that persist in your head and just be able to live a “normal” life, then this medication is absolutely for you. You will overeat, gain a little weight, have restless nights, and sleep all afternoon, you will have restless leg syndrome where you just can’t sit still. It takes about a month and a half for side effects to diminish. I’m so thankful to finally be happy again and be able to hold down a job. Those dark voices are gone. I don’t read a news article and believe I spoke to the President of the United States personally anymore. Now I wake up every day with just a calm, happy persona both internally and externally. The best part is that it’s only a once-a-month injection. I’ll tell you that on the day of the shot I do still get a little dizzy and tired, so I usually request off the entire day so I can relax. But even my family has noticed the huge change in me."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on Invega now for 2 months, it has stopped the hallucinations and delusions but has also increased my depression. I feel emotionally numb and am tired all the time. I also can't exercise like I used to, too tired to even walk. I'm still adjusting to this new med, so hopefully things will settle down."

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

Paliperidone 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."

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

Paliperidone 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."

• Rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Let’s start off by saying it causes bloating. I hate the feeling. I have been dieting and exercising but no results after eating. I have no sex drive, tiredness, no emotion, and lack of energy. I also don’t want to leave the house. This shot has worked for my voices, but the side effects are worse. Hopefully getting off of it soon."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2016

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I think this is the only antipsychotic that has worked for me. I was on Risperdal previously, and it didn't work that well, except that I made good friends and was nice usually. But I was always really paranoid or psychotic when I'd do all-nighters for school and thought there was a serial killer outside the window. Invega is much better, though, and I don't get that paranoia anymore or the really scary type of paranoia anymore. Although I get scared sometimes, it doesn't stop me from doing things. I'm on 12 mg of Invega and 300 mg of Lamictal. I'm not doing the best because the Lamictal should be at 400 mg to be optimal. I wasn't able to tolerate too high of a dose of Invega at first because it made me really tired and sleep all day, but I can now."

• Sou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2012

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "The medicine is partly covered by my insurance company. Current maintenance dosage 3 mg (was 6 mg) Invega. After taking Invega, my positive symptoms vanished completely after a number of weeks, furthermore, I don't get an unreal sense (depersonalization), which was the case with Risperdal. Unfortunately, I got the following side effects (discussed with my physician): - weight gain (8 kilos) - sometimes strange expression around mouth, stiffness - tiredness/weakness, need more sleep - intense dreaming, sometimes nightmares - harder to breathe through nose - increase of ALAT blood values (80) - dizziness after sudden activity - heartburn. For now, the positive effects outweigh the negative effects."

• pil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 10, 2015

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I feel great once I swallow Invega. It will make me a little tired at night. Sometimes when I'm hungry and try not to eat, I will get a strong stomachache. Once in a while, I will get suicidal thoughts, but am not dangerous to me or others in any way, they're just thoughts of suicide. When it's hot outside, I tend to feel very hot, and I sweat more, too. It's hard to lose weight on this medication, which is what I hate about this... and I've gained a lot since my pregnancy. My stomach area is inflamed with cortisol... I look horrible with a Santa belly... people always ask me if I'm pregnant, and some even stare. Even if I try not to eat, it is very hard to lose any weight with this medication, and no matter what you eat, you gain weight."

• Inv...
• June 3, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug should be prohibited. Since I've been on it, I felt like rubbish. I've felt depressed a lot of the time since on it, and nearly took my own life. Since about three or four months, I have been completely emotionally flatlined (anhedonia). I had this to some extent since the beginning, but it's now gotten to a point where I barely enjoy anything at all. Also, I have developed low testosterone since taking this drug, which leaves me too tired to work out, and even going for a walk feels like climbing a mountain on most days. It used to help keep psychotic symptoms at bay, though. Although some of the paranoid delusions I developed when I tried to switch antipsychotic medication have stayed."

• Nic...
• December 17, 2016

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been on this medication over a year now, and it has done wonderful things for me. Before I was on it, I had my first episode and was in and out of the hospital 4 times in 5 months, trying different medications and being unstable. Now I'm going back to school, and I have no symptoms. Side effects are minimal: a little tired the day or two after the shot, and I've gained 15 pounds or so-not too bad. This medication gave me my life back. I just hope my new insurance will cover it."

• Rob...
• July 13, 2021

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Invega Sustenna was difficult at first. I felt very tired and would get headaches. I believe this was my body adjusting. After a few months, and now on the drug for a few years, I have had a great experience. I still have symptoms once in a while, but not as bad. With the education I was given before taking the drug for my first time, I am now well aware of what a 'symptom' is. I am prepared. The drug Invega Sustenna has only improved my thoughts, speech, and dialect. As I would hear voices, preventing me from speaking clearly, Invega Sustenna has given me the ability to articulate my sentences. When I am ready, I will take either oral tablets or a 3-month injection. I think this will only help my limitations that I keep private. I no longer have headaches. I am no longer fatigued. I am in a good position, and I am proud of the person I am becoming."

• Mar...
• May 13, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Was doing well on 4 mg risperidone but wanted to try an injectable long-acting med. Doctor suggested I start with Invega oral to be sure it would work. Tried 6 mg Invega for a month but never felt as good as with risperidone. Made me depressed, tired, insomnia, and even had some breakthrough delusions. So glad I didn't go straight to injections. Restarted risperidone and feel good again. It must work for some people but not for me. No data anywhere comparing Invega to risperidone, which is odd because the drugs are related. No evidence this is a better drug than risperidone."

• BIb...
• December 17, 2015

Paliperidone 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."

• Kar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 29, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I was very tired, gained weight, had drug-induced Parkinsonism, Tardive Dyskinesia, gained 30 pounds in a year, slurred speech, delayed thought, sadness, huge breast growth. Started taking NAC, my memory has improved, I'm awake, much more sociable, I don't eat gluten or sugar/complex carbohydrates, and I drink filtered spring water. I need to lose 20 pounds. My skin is improving. I still want to get off these antipsychotic medications, I think they are super harmful, but 'NAC' (N-Acetyl Cysteine) was a game changer. Your life will change with NAC and vitamin C and calcium/magnesium. Consult a good general practitioner (GP)...get a blood test. Check your prolactin levels, Invega blocks the D2 dopamine receptors which cause prolactin levels to increase."

• Dev...
• November 21, 2016

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "About to depart Invega, so I felt the need to document my experience. Five years have been good on Invega. The pamphlet said, 'as clean as we can make it' or some such, and sure enough, the mind felt cleaner. If I was in a room all day, I would feel like my brain was drenched in depression. Invega made it fresh. I was able to take an interest in new things and grew over that time. Male sexual function: 9 mg said goodbye, 6 mg hints of life, 3 mg oh my God, I thought it left forever. Thank you, God. Weight: kind of hard to manage diet and exercise. It's like you need a scientist to work out satisfaction vs. calorie control. Beyond me, though weight training helped me feel good. Tiredness: very tired after work on all dosages. Hard to motivate to exercise but very rewarding."

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

Paliperidone 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."