Paliperidone and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• ask...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 28, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I'm getting Invega, serious side effects in libido (I'm a male), sexual dysfunction, gained 30 kg plus, I can't do sports due to muscle stiffness, and killed all thoughts out of my head, barely can hold a job. No emotions also, I'm a hollow empty shell, a zombie. Can't get drunk. Took my life away. But to say something good, it helped with delusions. I think it is too much price for it."

• Sea...
• February 10, 2021

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I have paranoia, panic disorder, and bipolar 1 with psychotic features. I zoned out and daydreamed living nightmares. It shattered my self-esteem. I heard people say my thoughts, and I heard their thoughts. It did not clear my mind, it made it race with the paranoia condition I have. I gained 100 pounds in one year. My labs showed I would have cirrhosis of the liver in 2-5 years due to obesity. I saw a nutritionist but lacked all motivation. I was constantly terrified. I rarely spoke. When I switched to another antipsychotic, my hallucinations stopped. Five years later, I have no idealizations about people reading my mind. I am grateful I was too scared to talk about how I felt because my diagnosis could have changed. I lost my whole sense of who I was by getting injected with 150 mg each month for four years. I blame myself little for sleeping the pain away. I would never recommend this medication to anyone."

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I don't feel much on this medication. It takes away the pleasure of enjoying things like video games, sadly. I've lost my sense of smell while on this drug. I've gained the most weight I have compared to other antipsychotics. I tried coming off it for a month with no success, it's really strong on preventing delusions and hearing voices. I can't ejaculate or feel much sexual pleasure while on this medication."

• kod...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 30, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Gained over 30 lbs on this medication, even though I'm eating less and I've cut out sugar from my diet. What's even more depressing is that even though I'm heavier, I'm actually weaker than I've been when I was skinny and off meds. Also, when I skip my injection for a week, I'm hitting threes and long twos like it's nothing on the basketball court, while on the medication, there's no point in going to the court. Also, the results of treatment are suboptimal: I don't have friends, during 6 years of treatment, I've never been on a date (which probably also has something to do with poor sexual functioning while on the medication). I stay at home all the time, am unemployed, and gained the status of a disabled person. However, when on the medication, I don't have positive symptoms like thought broadcasting. I'm seriously considering switching the medication, I'm depressed, desperate, feel awful all the time, and can't do it anymore."

• Phl...
• October 18, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Well, I have been on this medication for some time now. It has helped me with the voices, but to be honest, you do sleep a lot, and that's the only constant this medication has. It makes you eat a lot, and as far as sex drive goes, lol, I won't talk about it. I think that it depends on who you are around to make you feel depressed. You have to keep in mind that it's a serious disease, but with medication, it can be manageable. And if you are getting too fat, exercise. You will get the weight off. Keep positive people around you and remember the struggle is never done. We may always have a stigma put on us or a label put on us, but prove the enemy wrong. Be the best you can be and shine bright like a diamond. And remember, God loves you."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Depression "I was forced to take this drug 3 times at 39 mg per shot. My last shot was given about 6 months ago. I was actually misdiagnosed. I was suffering with depression, my family doctor forced this drug onto me. Terrible side effects-my speech became slurred, there was neck stiffness, watering of the eyes, sleepiness and dullness existed throughout the day, excessive salivation, difficulty in walking, memory loss, loss of libido, amenorrhea, and most of all terrible weight gain. I gained 20 lbs already, and I feel I am still gaining weight. I could recover from other symptoms with the help of a smarter doctor, but not the weight gain. Anyone, please suggest to me if you lost weight after stopping this drug, and if so, how long did you take? I am a physically active person who is originally thin-built."

• 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."

• bud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2019

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "This drug is driving me crazy! I don't like the weight gain, and it slows me down considerably. I can't eat whatever! Everything has sodium in it. My body has gone through the wringer (think using the potty), and people have to take things away to keep me from committing suicide. Things are done behind my back to keep me stable as well. The edge is gone (me saying the F word on a regular basis), but what about sleep? I am 43 years old, and I need my beauty sleep! I never want to feel the feeling of being awake for weeks on end! Guess it doesn't help that I discovered coffee... bring on the drugs that encourage you and not make you fat and bloated!"

• Men...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 11, 2022

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Would not recommend this drug, it made me feel less like myself and more depressed. I never had things such as voices or hallucinations in my life, and all the doctors wanted to tell me was I was a paranoid schizophrenic, then the doctor decided to diagnose me bipolar on top of that. Be very careful who you trust and what you put into your body. Some doctors will try to convince you that there is something defective with your brain and that you need drugs. I have been off all psychiatric medications for 16 days now and haven't gotten the Invega Trinza for over 3 months, and I'm starting to recover. I now am going to exercise 30 minutes a day, eat right, and get plenty of restful sleep. Also, Invega could make you gain a lot of weight, as well as make your emotions so dulled down that you'll forget what you were like before. It should be illegal to use this drug on people, especially when there's no real evidence that a person needs the drug."

• ken...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2023

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "Invega has had negative effects on my appetite and sleep patterns. I strongly dislike this medication. When I was actively searching for a job, I found myself constantly falling asleep. This injection is the worst medication I have ever taken. It has caused excessive eating and significant weight gain. Considering my experience, I would not recommend this medication to anyone."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2010

Paliperidone for Bipolar Disorder "My 8-year-old son was put on Invega 3 mg and then moved up to 6 mg a day. About 1 1/2 months ago after gaining too much weight on risperidone. He gets the dosage on time daily, but since starting Invega, he has had the worst uncontrollable muscle spasms/twitches. He is constantly twitching his arms, neck, and head without knowing he is doing it. Also, he has started making vocal noises (random humming) without noticing he is doing it. I was really hoping the Invega would work, but I think in our case, the side effects are too much to accept, so he will be switching again today."

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2018

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I was on Invega Sustenna for over a year before being on Trinza. I was committed to the hospital about two years ago and was resistant to taking medication. I did allow them to give me a shot, not knowing what it was at the time. Within a month, my delusions cleared up and I stopped having auditory or visual hallucinations. At first, I gained a little weight, but after switching to a vegan diet, I lost a total of 40 lbs without any extra exercise. I've held down a steady job and have not had a manic episode since I've been taking the shot. Today, my arm is a little sore as I got the shot yesterday, but it's a small price to pay for keeping me sane. I would highly recommend this drug to anyone that has been diagnosed with schizophrenia."

• Smo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I have been on this medication on and off for about 5 months now, and it’s been rough. I can’t think of anything positive to say about it. I can’t sleep, I have to take medicine just to sleep. I have been feeling depressed and unmotivated, and I have gained so much weight. I used to weigh 165 lb, after getting back on this medication, I am now 187 lb after about a couple of weeks. I'd honestly rather have delusions and hear voices than to have life stripped away from me like this. I am not hearing voices, but my doctor still wants to keep me on it. No emotions or feelings on this med, currently on a 156 mg injection."

• Tak...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 11, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "I've been on this med, Invega, for years. Without it, I was suicidal and often hurt myself. With this med, I'm happy again and have no desire to cause harm to myself. Only side effects are weight gain and long sleep."

• 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."

• Tea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2022

Paliperidone "I was on these shots for 9 months for bipolar disorder, and it caused me to gain weight. I couldn't cry or feel much of any emotion, really. I also have multiple sclerosis, and it affected my ability to blink. I had difficulty swallowing, almost making me choke on my food. I began to have an abnormal gait problem that affects my work on a daily basis. My libido was severely low. My hair started to fall out, and my skin was so dry I had a layer of dandruff even though I washed my hair normally. The skin on my legs and feet was peeling. I also had involuntary facial movements. This medication really messed me up, and I'm trying my best to recover from all the damage. I don't think anyone should be on this medication, they make money off of your suffering. Just don't do it."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2021

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "When I was on the 75 mg injection, I wouldn’t stop gaining weight, my weight went from 104 lbs to 136 lbs and was increasing with crazy hunger. I had bad acne from this medication, no period, couldn’t work out, went to bed at 6:00 pm, lost my internal voice, couldn’t think at all. They dropped me down to 50 mg, and the weight persisted. They then spaced out my injection to five weeks apart, and I dropped some weight but not enough to be proud of. I’m around 120 lbs, still don’t have a period, have crazy hunger, no internal voice, can’t perform like I used to, have puffy eyelids, one drooping eyelid, can’t use my imagination, bad memory, can’t lose weight, don’t sleep at night, and the side effects keep piling up. It has taken away my voices during the day and my delusions."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2010

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been hearing voices for 2.5 years. Initially, I had severe emotional swings and delusions created by the voices and my interaction with them. I began taking Invega 18 months ago - this was very successful in moderating the emotions and generally calming my mental state. In terms of side effects: I am really struggling to lose any weight even with a good diet and exercise, I have very high prolactin levels - this contributes to me not getting periods, having occasional breast discharge, and I believe is responsible for 'anorgasmia' - where I have very low sexual desire and arousal, and feelings of orgasm are very subdued. These side effects have become more apparent over time."

• 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."

• Iam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2020

Paliperidone for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have MDD with psychotic features, and I've been on this med, Invega Sustenna, for 4 months. I've gained a lot of weight, feel numb, feel dumb, feel like my life is now one big act, like I'm a puppet that doesn't really have any emotions because I don't feel good or bad, and I just act and do what I feel should be the norm although I don't feel anything. Hope that makes sense... I don't always feel that way, sometimes I feel my normal positive self, but for the most part, that is the case. It has stopped hallucinations, visual/auditory and tactile. I don't know how to make an informed decision on this med :/ I'm 50/50."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2017

Paliperidone for Schizophrenia "Have been on Invega inj. for 2 months. Most hallucinations, auditory, visual, and mental gone. Has been a game changer for me as my life was completely unmanageable before. Still not leaving home much and have gained a few pounds, nothing too drastic, but it beats having conversations with people only I can see and not having a choice about it. Also, my insurance wouldn't cover it, it's about $2000 USD for 1 month inj. Thanks, hope this helps."