Invega Trinza and Weight Gain: What Users Say

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

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."

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

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."

• tur...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 14, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I have been on Invega Trinza for almost four years for my schizophrenia. The first side effect I had was weight gain of over 70 lbs. I stopped having my period due to high prolactin. I also found out I have high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and a low white blood cell count. I have schizophrenia, so I do need this medicine. But seriously, weighing the side effects I have against the mental stability I have."

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

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."

• Jes...
• August 18, 2020

"Firstly, I was treated with Invega Trinza due to a traumatic brain injury. My dosage was once every 3 months at 234 mg, but a total of 819 mg. I was treated for 6 months. I was very slow, tired, and honestly mostly sleeping for about 14 hours a day. I would say a lack of motivation and an extreme lack of focus. The number one thing that bothered and devastated me the most was the increase in weight gain. For example, I’m 5'6 and my normal, fit weight is a little under 115 lbs. With an intense amount of workouts and barely eating like 850 calories a day, I still gained 15 lbs. My weight was now 130 lbs. I was doing sprint intervals and running at an average of 6-7 miles every day. Also, I was strength training for about 45-60 mins every day. Also, prior to working out at an extraneous amount, I ate a very healthy diet. Finally, since stopping this medication, it took my body about a month to start functioning normally and get back down to my normal weight at 115 lbs."

• Hmm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I've been getting the Invega Trinza injection for about 3 years now. My life beforehand: continuous hospital visits, absolutely no stability, and no order in terms of thought. Every symptom of bipolar/schizophrenia I exuded. While undergoing this treatment, I've been able to finish my degree, obtain 2 licenses, and formulate and create memories that weren't just about hospital visits. There are downsides. In the last year, I've started getting headaches frequently. I've gained 50 lbs, and I don't like socializing with others too much, and sometimes it can be awkwardly detached. I have what seems to be hypergraphia, but in my head/thinking (the only way to put it); compulsive and sometimes impulsive behavior/reactions. So... do I recommend this injection? I guess I would if nothing else has helped (I'm taking an 819 mg injection). It's also convenient if you don't like taking daily pills. Forgot to mention, my hallucinations are obsolete, but I still experience bouts of depression."

• Smo...
• March 18, 2021

For Schizophrenia "Have been on Trevicta 175 mg for 3 years, Paliperidone 10 years. Tidying up the garden is no longer a pain. Traveling abroad is excellent, getting into the USA from the UK is no problem as you carry no medicines. Appetite is not an issue, you don't eat to compensate for this drug, Trevicta. Stay away from takeaways and fast food as this is the main source of weight gain. You can drive a car if your doctor OKs this. Remember common sense: if you have a bad day with side effects, don't drive that day until you feel better. You can read a book quite easily, etc., watch television, see a movie in town. Do some exercise, walk a mile if you can now and again. Life can be an uphill struggle, you fight your mental condition in part with medicine, that way, you keep your head above the waterline. All antipsychotic drugs have side effects, none are perfect."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2024

"I’ve been on Invega for about two years. I started with Invega Sustenna (shot once a month) for about 6 months, then switched to Trinza. Overall, the drug has worked really well for me until I began to develop tardive dyskinesia. About 6 months ago, I also had a mild manic episode on the second-to-lowest dose. Because of this, they upped my dose, and I’ve gained 30 lbs in 6 months and have no sex drive. Such a better option compared to Haldol and lithium, which made me gain 60 lbs and had so many other side effects. I lost 30 lbs when they lowered my dose to the second-lowest of Invega, but unfortunately gained it all back when they upped the dose. I hate taking medication, this is all still kinda new to me, and I want to eventually get off meds, but my psychiatrist won’t let me."

• doo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 25, 2024

For Schizophrenia "it worked for me, it's really individual. I'm still growing breasts, but I tried 10 years of resisting the man boobs and libido, and to be honest, it took me going to jail to stop caring about my weight. Now they have Ozempic they can add for weight loss and Zepbound. It took me an entire year to start working, but all the newer medicines like Abilify and Geodon stopped working like they were too weak. I think it helps that this medicine is effective against mania as well, but so far, I like it. I would go on this forum and ask for advice on medicines, and from Latuda to Abilify, I lost sense of the real goal, which was to get better. In summary, give it a try, because you can be paranoid of weight gain too. I gain no weight on the Trinza."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I have had to deal with sexual dysfunction and weight gain on this horrible drug."