Invega and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I have been diagnosed with bipolar with psychosis in June 2020. I got 2 loading doses of Invega then two other doses in two months, a total of 4 doses. Now I am 10 months since the last dose still suffering from weight gain (20 Kg), erectile dysfunction with numb penis and shrinkage, less semen volume. This drug is awful. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION AT ALL. Unfortunately, I did not have the choice to accept or refuse the drug because I was admitted to the hospital at that time. They took the consent from my parents who did not know what this drug is. This is a post for humanity, please do not use this drug, it ruined my life totally."

• Phy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "If you are looking for the worst time of your life, this is the medication for you! Do you want to gain 100 lbs? Lose all your friends and be turned into a vegetable? If so, Invega will do the job. Don’t take this, it's terrible. You will gain weight, everything nice will be gone from your life, you will feel sick and foggy all the time, and your life will basically be over. It reduces you to a fraction of the person you should be, and it's messy and unpleasant. No one should take this."

• Sol...
• April 14, 2021

For Schizophrenia "This is the worst medication ever. I was 120 lbs when I started on this, and I gained 80 lbs. My boobs went up from an A cup size to a D. It has been so hard to lose the weight. I don't take the meds anymore, and I'm still trying to lose the weight, it caused me other health problems on top of this. I would not wish this medication on anyone. I did not feel better on it at all. In fact, I felt dizzy, was sleepy, and all I wanted to do was eat. I repeated myself constantly while on this med. I blame the manufacturers for all the damages."

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

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."

• Uni...
• April 13, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on Invega for 3 years. The beginning was bad. I had so much energy I couldn't sit still or get comfortable. I gained weight but it got better. I started to see the benefits, for example, less tension and edginess, better decision-making, sleep improvements, and feeling less scared and paranoid. Then I got diagnosed with high levels of prolactin. It has been over a year, and they still can't get it under control, which means I'm always itchy and overweight. Now I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes because of the meds. I was told to eat right and exercise every day for the rest of my life. And then he laughed!! It has been about a month since the pre-diabetes diagnosis, and I have only lost 1 kg. That's with healthy eating and exercise. My doctor thinks the benefits still outweigh the risks, so they are constantly pushing the drug on me, but I'm itchy, pre-diabetic, and overweight."

• Ram...
• November 17, 2015

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I am living a productive, symptom-free life because of Invega shot 4 years, 6 mg pill for 1. Now a college grad, off disability, full-time job (40k) at an investment bank all made possible by Invega. I was severely sick and now I haven't been for 5 years. It took a couple of hospitalizations, several lost jobs, and even jail (which was a turning point) to find Invega. I did 3 full-time years in college and got a 3.9 in finance. The only side effects I've had are slightly high cholesterol and weight gain, which for me is somewhat manageable with diet although for what I eat I'd be 20 pounds less. I am now crystal clear and have zero symptoms. Life changer."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This drug has ruined my life. It caused me to lactate. Even 4 months later off the medicine, I am still lactating and my prolactin got even higher! I had an MRI and it didn't show a pituitary tumor, which this drug can cause. I am now being referred to a neurosurgeon because nobody knows what to do and nobody knows how my prolactin can still be so high. A few years ago, my pituitary gland was symmetrical, but ever since being on Invega, my pituitary gland is asymmetrical. One side is bigger than the other. This drug caused my pituitary to change its shape. On top of that, I lost my periods completely, so now I'm infertile. It also made me eat like a horse and gain weight. My life is ruined. Beware of this drug."

• PRO...
• March 11, 2016

For Schizophrenia "These drugs are dangerous. They ruined my life and made my illness much worse. The doctors do not believe me as they think I'm an inferior life form. Symptoms include tooth decay, lack of motivation, extreme weight gain, heart pains, and reduced level of consciousness. They also made me extremely delusional to the point I didn't even believe anymore."

• inv...
• August 7, 2016

For Schizophrenia "This medication completely ruined my life. I gained 15 kg over six months on this injection, whereas before I was fit. I grew man boobs on this medication. I have no libido and complete sexual dysfunction. This medication gives you terrible anhedonia. I was forced to take Invega Sustenna after some stupid psychiatrist diagnosed me with 'psychosis.' I had no symptoms of psychosis."

• Try...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 20, 2017

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medication sucks. I only experienced side effects and no benefit. I would rather spend my time looking for another way to treat my illness than to give any of these antipsychotics another chance. All of them cause weight gain, sexual side effects, tardive dyskinesia, tardive dystonia, among other side effects that could mess you up for life. I admit it's very debilitating at times, but I would rather have my original problems than to be given another set of problems to replace them. If your psychosis is really bad and you can't live a normal life at all, and you're homeless and you scare people or end up in jail because of your illness, then I say take it. But if you can wait till they figure out how to make better meds, then wait."

• LHH...
• August 3, 2013

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."

• Dam...
• August 6, 2015

For Schizoaffective Disorder "When I first started taking Invega, it took away the voices and delusional thoughts better than the other injection I was receiving. Weaning off of it was not hard, but I was also taking large doses of niacin and lithium at the time. I had a manic episode that lasted 3 months after withdrawing. After that, one injection brought me back to reality in less than a day. I have extreme weight gain on Invega, drowsiness (sleep 12 hours a day), and decreased sex drive. Though it is important for me to point out, like I said, no mania or hallucinating. I function well on the injection. It is the side effects that I have trouble dealing with."

• Ros...
• May 2, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I have been on Invega for 7 months. I have noticed many side effects like muscle stiffness, agitation, involuntary movements, horrific nightmares, headaches, and I have gained about 40 pounds in that time while continuing to exercise and eat healthily. I was on 9 mg for about 3 months and then was lowered to 3 mg. It did stop my severe psychosis when initially prescribed, so for that, I am very grateful. I am now weaning off the medication to hopefully improve my quality of life. Would not recommend unless absolutely necessary."

• Mad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in June of 2020. Since then, I have been on numerous antipsychotics, and Invega is by far the worst. It caused brain damage, turned me into a vegetable, and I’ve put on 50 pounds. Everything nice in my life is gone. The anhedonia is the worst thing about it."

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was prescribed Invega because my mother takes the injection, and it has helped her. I take the tablets. I'm so incredibly boring now. I don't find joy in anything, really. I don't have motivation to shower. I'm emotionless. I've gained a lot of weight. This medication should definitely be a last resort."

• Han...
• May 20, 2017

For Schizophrenia "This medication is an absolute waste of time. I have been on Invega for a little less than 2 years now, and I can with absolute confidence ascertain that it has done nothing for me. Aside from the decrease in sexual appetite and libido, difficulty having and maintaining erections, little to no ejaculatory fluid (which is really frustrating, by the way), the muscle tremors I am experiencing, and the 30 pounds I have gained since starting this medication, it is with no doubt an absolute and total waste of money. I definitely would not recommend this medication to anyone. Save yourselves the time and money and do not take this medication."

• ask...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2017

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Although it helped with my delusional thoughts, it completely destroyed my life. I have anhedonia, loss of sex drive, fatigue, can't play football or any sports, my mind is blank, 40 kg weight gain, always hungry, can't get drunk. Feeling down sometimes. Robbed every joy from me."

• cop...
• February 20, 2017

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."

• Out...
• September 22, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been terrified about staying on any anti-psychotic medication, the side effects are horrible. This drug has very few side effects, no weight gain is a plus! Not to mention, it stabilizes my moods and stops psychosis. Another added bonus is the drug company provided me with a free lifetime user card. Thank you for giving me my life back."

• Mr ...
• April 26, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Total scam. I've been on this drug for 3 years. Since being on it, it caused acute arm paralysis, dystonia, difficulty speaking, delirium which lasted for a month, and it caused weight gain and man boobs. When I first received the shot, it felt like my brain was about to explode. I had extremely high blood pressure on this medicine- 178/105. After I stopped it, my blood pressure is 110/78. I experienced temporal lobe damage from this medicine, and a CT scan showed atrophy of my brain after I stopped taking it. Be careful- many psychiatrists receive grants and stipends from big pharma and receive extra insurance money to peddle more drugs to as many patients as possible. This is because of our fee-for-service healthcare system."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2022

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I am currently on Invega Sustenna 78 mg, the monthly injection. The main side effect I experienced from Invega was sexual dysfunction. My sex drive dropped a lot, I became unable to get an erection, and when I did manage to masturbate (which was rare), I produced much less semen. Before I started taking this medication, I could sexually recharge in less than an hour if something was turning me on. After starting this medication, my dick became totally nonfunctional for days after ejaculation. I used to be able to get an erection just from looking without genital touching. Now the only way for me to get an erection is with genital touching, and only if it's been a while since I last ejaculated. Before, I was on a higher dose, and these sexual side effects were worse - at the higher dose, I produced almost zero semen and my dick was almost totally nonfunctional. I don't actually know if it helped with my schizoaffective disorder because my symptoms come and go unpredictably. I also gained 30 lbs."

• kou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2014

For Schizophrenia "I'm a young single mom. In my experience, Invega gives me a fuller lifestyle. My condition is stable and controlled with Invega, so I can live with a balanced, happier mind. The only downside is the weight gain and some minor side effects, like milk production in my breasts. However, the benefits to my mind are greater than some minor and trivial side effects."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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."