Paliperidone and Depression: What Users Say

• Mar...
• April 19, 2021

For Schizophrenia "Do not take this drug! I was given two injections and don't want any more. I'm severely depressed because of this stupid, horrible drug. I cannot concentrate, it literally ruined my brain and caused severe brain damage. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG! THESE COMPANIES SHOULD BE SUED!"

• Dol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I got this shot by doctors that had no clue, and I had no idea what I got. This shot gave me lower IQ, worse memory, slower thinking, loss of emotions, depression, high level of prolactin, erectile dysfunction, no sperm at all, and also anxiety. My memory used to be extremely good, and I had high IQ, but now I have a hard time remembering things, and my IQ dropped significantly on IQ tests. I'm going to report them to the police and file a lawsuit. All of this by a shot I shouldn't have gotten at all. Ban it, please, and don't let others go through the same hell as I did."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• The...
• December 31, 2020

For Schizophrenia "This drug rendered me bedridden with no interest in life. I went from being an opinionated, funny guy that could read your emotions and make just about anyone laugh, or at least smirk. I've always been very emotional, and this drug sucked my soul, will to live, and emotions right out of me. I'm left an empty shell of who I was. This drug is referred to as a chemical lobotomy for a good reason. It shuts down all free thoughts, the voice in your head, your conscience disappears. With nothing to say, no interest in anything, no thoughts, no emotions, you as a person just about stop existing. No feeling of gratitude, accomplishment, satisfaction. Your thought process and basic decision-making skills are destroyed. I've been off this drug for about 5 months now, and I'm not seeing too much relief. The fear of 'being like this forever' is a constant fear that never lets up, since this isn't a life, this is merely existing. My plea and advice to you? Stay away from this medicine."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 17, 2021

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was prescribed Invega Sustenna on my 5th hospital stay for bipolar and schizoaffective episodes. I wasn’t responding to the oral medications, and I have compliance issues with taking oral meds anyway. Like most people who have already commented, my experience with this drug has been horrible. Yes, it stopped the hallucinations, but it has robbed me of my emotions. I feel flat all the time, I gained weight, my hair fell out, I lost my sex drive and my ability to orgasm. I have anhedonia and avolition, I cannot socialize anymore, I can barely contribute to a conversation, I’m barely caring for myself (not cooking, not cleaning)... I am like a child. This medication is terrible in my opinion, I would not recommend it. I’d rather live with the occasional hallucination than all of the side effects Invega has caused."

• Any...
• February 1, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I’m currently writing with trembles in my hands and muscle stiffness. I had a nervous breakdown and classified bipolar NIGHTMARE BEGAN. I have extreme paranoia, lost my job because Invega destroyed my hand coordination, TD (I believe I have permanent brain damage), sexual dysfunction, muscle stiffness, tremors in my whole body, hands shaking, face twitching, curling fingers. I can’t hold down food, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal, antisocial, no emotions, removed from relationships, no periods, infertile at this point, no sleep in 3 months, pacing, blurry vision, absolute chemical lobotomy - fear of body deteriorating. 39 years old, hard to find the energy just to stay alive. Everything in my body is dry. I’m a nervous wreck. Detoxing: I was trying to restart my body - No change in 2 months. Instead, have early signs of Parkinson’s."

• Any...
• February 1, 2020

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I’m currently writing with trembles in my hands and muscle stiffness. I had a nervous breakdown and classified bipolar NIGHTMARE BEGAN. I have extreme paranoia, lost my job because Invega destroyed my hand coordination, TD (I believe I have permanent brain damage), sexual dysfunction, muscle stiffness, tremors in my whole body, hands shaking, face twitching, curling fingers. I can’t hold down food, severe anxiety, depression, suicidal, antisocial, no emotions, removed from relationships, no periods, infertile at this point, no sleep in 3 months, pacing, blurry vision, absolute chemical lobotomy - fear of body deteriorating. 39 years old, hard to find the energy just to stay alive. Everything in my body is dry. I’m a nervous wreck. Detoxing: I was trying to restart my body - No change in 2 months. Instead, have early signs of Parkinson’s."

• Rem...
• October 14, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I took 6 injections over a 6-month period. I didn't notice much in the first couple of months. It helped with the paranoia, I still heard voices to a lesser extent. Around the 5th month, I had noticed I gained 50 lbs (115 to 165). It happened so rapidly. I also began to lactate. That was all horrible, but the worst of it was the severe anhedonia. They wanted to slowly taper me off the injection, but I refused to take any more after the 6-month period. I felt mentally slower. I got no pleasure from listening to music or watching TV. I stopped laughing. This is just my personal experience, but if you look up this medicine, you will find there are many people who have gone through a similar experience. It's been 14 months since my last injection, and I think I have mentally fully recovered. I think this drug is too potent. I am almost certain it gave me some sort of brain damage. One of the biggest regrets of my life is taking this drug, I was better off before."

• Dad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I started taking this medication for 3 months after I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and it has ruined my life. I now have trouble speaking, I'm always anxious, I can barely concentrate on anything, I'm depressed and sleeping a lot, and I no longer get erections and have trouble producing semen. I have been off of it for 2 months, and I'm still dealing with the side effects. This is the worst thing I have ever been on, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone."

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

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

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."

• Kan...
• May 14, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "It's been 3 years since I took Invega, but I still think about it often because I have never been as depressed as I was on Invega. I would literally cry upon waking because I couldn't bear being conscious. I was sleeping ~13 hours a day for a few months. It made me catatonic a few times as well. I was so depressed there were times I couldn't lift my head or stand up or even talk. It was an actual nightmare, and my psych insisted it was just initial adjustment side effects, but I have never been on a medication that harmed me as much as Invega. I would have taken the psychosis over the Invega any day. I stopped taking it without permission, and I kid you not-the next day, I felt normal. I physically couldn't get out of bed, and my limbs felt like lead; it was ridiculous. I was in such a dark, dark place and started giving away my belongings, but stopped almost immediately once I stopped the medication."

• Nse...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I was forced to take Invega after a spiritual emergence was diagnosed as schizophrenia, bipolar, and schizoaffective disorder. I had the initial dose of 256mg, I believe, then 150mg for four months. My last shot was in August 2018. By the second shot, my thoughts had stopped. I could no longer think. It shut off my consciousness. My memory and retaining information have been affected. I developed anhedonia. I can no longer feel any emotion. I have no libido or menstrual cycles. I haven't had an appetite in 4 months. I have no desire to eat or get pleasure from it. I have insomnia. I believe this medicine has caused brain damage. Other drugs have reduced or no effectiveness such as cannabis, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and sleep medication. This drug has a half-life of 25-49 days. So it's going to take at least a year before it is completely out of my system."

• 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."

• 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."

• Blk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Schizophrenia "The one positive effect of this drug (Invega Sustenna 150 mg every 4 weeks) is that it controls my hallucinations and delusions. But the trade-off is really hard to bear. I’ve lost all the joy in my life, the anhedonia is so bad that I have to live in a constant state of pretending to be happy because I am now unable to feel any kind of happiness or pleasure, especially from activities I once enjoyed very much. I can’t recall things and my memories have evaporated. I feel blunted and flat all the time. I can’t function in a meaningful way, and feel more depressed than I ever have in my life. I’ve gained lots of weight, lost muscle tone, yet I feel agitated like I want to jump out of my skin all the time. Being on this medication is a living nightmare. I am 43 and feel like life has come to a screeching halt."

• Blk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Schizophrenia "The one positive effect of this drug (Invega Sustenna 150 mg every 4 weeks) is that it controls my hallucinations and delusions. But the trade-off is really hard to bear. I’ve lost all the joy in my life, the anhedonia is so bad that I have to live in a constant state of pretending to be happy because I am now unable to feel any kind of happiness or pleasure, especially from activities I once enjoyed very much. I can’t recall things and my memories have evaporated. I feel blunted and flat all the time. I can’t function in a meaningful way, and feel more depressed than I ever have in my life. I’ve gained lots of weight, lost muscle tone, yet I feel agitated like I want to jump out of my skin all the time. Being on this medication is a living nightmare. I am 43 and feel like life has come to a screeching halt."

• Bae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Where do I start with the side effects of Invega Sustenna? Sexual dysfunction, yes, my penis is useless, I feel like a 2-year-old. I have severe anhedonia (loss of pleasure), I have put on 20 kg, I sleep for 11-12 hours a day, and just overall feel terrible. My memory is horrible, I’m depressed, and I just feel like I am not living some days. Whatever you do, do not take this drug. Other antipsychotic drugs are better, they don’t all have the same effects, so just try aiming elsewhere."

• Bae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Where do I start with the side effects of Invega Sustenna? Sexual dysfunction, yes, my penis is useless, I feel like a 2-year-old. I have severe anhedonia (loss of pleasure), I have put on 20 kg, I sleep for 11-12 hours a day, and just overall feel terrible. My memory is horrible, I’m depressed, and I just feel like I am not living some days. Whatever you do, do not take this drug. Other antipsychotic drugs are better, they don’t all have the same effects, so just try aiming elsewhere."

• Sal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2023

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Such a horrible, horrible, evil drug made me depressed, caused erectile dysfunction, made me puke, made my eyesight worse, made my brain feel foggy, and caused me to itch and sweat profusely. Mucks around with my whole nervous system, it needs to be taken off the market! This company and its supporters should be sued immediately."

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

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."

• Jid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 9, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was misdiagnosed due to an incident. Ever since I got this injection, I’ve been feeling less of myself. I’ve gained weight, at least 90 lbs, no emotion, barely sleep at night (5 hours), foggy mind, can’t think, bad concentration, less dopamine, shortness of breath, no creativity, and no personality. What’s the point of having a medicine that has worse side effects than the problem?"

• NKa...
• November 18, 2019

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."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2018

For Schizophrenia "This drug ruined me. I was fine before after they forced me to take it. I've been unable to write music since, which was what I had a passion for. This drug has made me depressed and given me anxiety, which I was never experiencing before the drug. Beware of this drug, it helps some and can ruin others."