Coming Off Invega Sustenna (Top voted first)

Hi,

I was given Invega Sustenna at 100mg a month for 10 months since Dec 5th. My last shot was on August 29th 2013.

The medication gave me severe anhedonia and I have lost the motivation and willpower to do anything. I can no longer experience joy, happiness, or pleasure from anything I do and I have no interest in doing anything. I constantly feel restless and uneasy and I just can't shake this feeling away no matter what. All of these started about a week after my first IV.

I have been off this medication for almost 3 months now and I have yet to feel any improvements. I have read that it has a long half life of 25-49 days and that it can stay in your body for 300 days. So does that mean I will have to wait a year to start feeling better?

Any info on someone who has been off this med would be greatly appreiciated. I am interested to learn how many months it takes to feel better after invega sustenna.

Thank you

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Hello, Narshe81! How are you doing?

The full elimination time from your body usually takes 5 to 6 half-lives, so that would range from 125 days to 294 days.

However, over that time period, more of the medication is gradually eliminated, so it likely will not take a year for you to start feeling better, but it could take several months.

Have you consulted your doctor for assistance?

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Totally. You can detect it with your prolactin level in the blood. It will rise once you get the inj's. and come back to normal when you stop. The only reason I post on forums is to give hope to people as I never read anything positive about people getting back to a normal life after taking invega sustenna. I run about that, 8 miles a day right now. When I was on this, I could not work out at all, I was a total waste. I did not feel human at all and I was just thinking about the past. I had a job for 3 months and got interned in an hospital because I wanted to suicide. I received about 10 shots. It took me about 7 months after the last inj. to feel better. The recovery is pretty drastic, 1 day I had suicidal thoughts, the following day I started feeling better and it went uphill in a matter of two weeks until I felt like I used to be. For the guy that did not recover after 11 years I don't know what to tell you, this med is hell on earth I don't wish that to my worst enemy but it worked out for me. If you only got two shots I don't see how you won't come back to normal. When I say normal I mean complete recovery. No anhedonia, no suicidal thoughts, libido, ability to work out like you were capable before, self confidence, ability to socialize with people. The only thing for me is that I now have high cholesterol but I also have hope it will go back to normal with time. Also don't forget, you will unlikely read positive things on the matter because when you feel good you don't necessarily search on forums about invega and suicide or what so ever. I however told myself I would give a message of hope if I felt better and that's the case. Don't give up, you'll feel human again.

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Yes normal sex life, ability to get aroused easily without a woman touching me. I had a very bad sexual dysfunction, everything came back 100%. I don't know why people wouldn't recover honestly. You only got 2 shots, give yourself at least 6-7 months, in my opinion you have very good chances to recover from this.

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It does get better! I used to be tired, not able to run or do anything. No libido, severe anhedonia. Severe suicidal thoughts every day. Not able to get drunk. Sleeping 18 hours a day. Weight gain. I took inj's. for about 8 months and I stopped taking it about 8 months ago. I AM COMPLETELY BACK TO NORMAL. Don't lose hope. After about 6-8 months you'll be back to normal, i swear it has been the worst time of my life going through this waiting period time wondering if I would ever come back to a normal life. {edited for privacy}. I have been through this, you'll be able to recover.

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Hi,

Thank you very much for your response. I have told my doctor everything about how I felt and that was why he let me off the medication. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia last year and now my doctor thinks that it may have just been a cannabis induced psychosis.

This medication has ridiculously long half life. I have never felt this bad before and it really has been the worst form of torture I have ever been through. It is not even funny how difficult it is to get through a day feeling like this. And I have been feeling like this for almost a year now. I am really hoping that you are right that I will start feeling better in a couple of months and not a year.

I have been trying desperately to find a success story of anyone coming off invega sustenna but I have had no luck. The drug is rather new. I am so scared that this could be permanent though I know I might just be too pestimistic. But at the very moment, this feels permanent. It's horrible.

I have read many posts where people who were on the pills version of antipsychotic took about 3-4 months after their last pill to start feeling better. The pills usually have a half life of 24 hours and is cleared by 5-6 days. With invega sustenna having such a long half life I am scared that it will be 5-6 half lives PLUS 3-4 more months afterward. That's more than a year!!!

I really don't know what to do. I have never contemplated suicide as often as I have been after this medication. I want it all to end.

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I'm coming off invega sustenna now. This was the medication from hell. It made me severely depressed & lethargic, not to mention it increased my prolactin levels which made me gain 30lbs, has given me acne and caused hair growth on my face (I'm female, so it's embarrassing) thankfully my last shot was the beginning of December, however my blood levels still show high prolactic, so all I can do is wait. Unless it's absolutely necessary I wouldn't recommend anyone take invega sustenna... At least just take the pill form, so if you have negative side effects yiu can get it out of your system quicker... Oh yeah, not to mention, the drug companies make a killing of this drug- it's super pricey.

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Hello,

My son took the invega injection in March of 2016 and only now, August of 2017 is getting better. He had only a psychotic meltdown and a psychiatrist gave him this injection in a clinic. This medication is hell, he was not able to think correctly or work. The exhaustion makes him sleep for 15 to 20 hours. It's criminal to give this injection in people who are not schizophrenic. He gained more than 30 pounds, lost interest in life and also my life became a nightmare because I need to stay 24 hours with him, can't work, can't do anything. He got much better when he exercised. I know it's hard, but everyone that is in this situation needs to do that to feel better. Also Yoga, stay in the ocean, get sun, etc. It all helps a little bit. Now he is taking CBD oil and it looks like that is what is helping him. 3 drops 3 x per day. Also vitamin B3, vitamin C and B12 he is taking. We all should report to the FDA what this horrible medication does. It's really a nightmare.

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Read this!

I just want to say to everybody that I've been of this injection for year and a half now and everything is back as it used to be! Everything will go back to normal, you do not have to worry. I almost completely lost semen, had no libido and sexual function, I couldn't achieve orgasm, my nose was closed all the time, I felt the mental numbness, akathisia and everything else that others experienced too. Nothing is permanent, this is matter, not a living organism, not a virus, meaning it cannot reproduce and remain in your system forever, like herpes for example. Eventually (after a quite long time though) it will be out of your system and your hormone levels will be back to normal, as they used to be. The reason why (I think) you won't find successful stories coming off this medication is because most people just simply want to forget this terrible experience like a bad dream from a long time ago and they simply don't come back to forums and bring the good news. I told myself that I am going to go back to all places and tell people not to worry and that they can be relieved, after I'm fully recovered and can confirm this. I know that side effects are really terrible, but you just have to be patient, and rest assured that it will not be forever. It may take longer for same, shorter for others, but eventually it will be out!

I wish everything best to all of you!

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Eduardo I'm happy. You gave me hope... {edited for privacy}. It'd be nice to talk to someone that has went through what I went through... Also I'm 5'8 and 190: on what month did you notice weight loss?

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Hi, it takes 6-8 months after your last shot to become back to normal.

Kind Regards

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Hi Carly, I'm 8 and a half months off this poison and my prolactin level and libido came back, no anhedonia, but still get depressive waves with withdrawal. I was on sustenna for 6 months by court order and I still cant feel euphoria or much joy from stimulants. I hope this amends itself. Everyone's withdrawal is different. About 4-5 months along I experienced depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, etc, but am getting better slowly now. Anyway hope we all recover from this poisonous medication. I recon it'll take a year to come right, here's to hoping anyway.

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Guys,

I used to take Invega Sustenna back in 2014-2015. 10 shots of 100mg.

I suffered severe anhedonia, loss of libido, it was pure hell. Couldn't move or exercise, slept 18 hours a day.

Today I am fully back to normal, 100%.

Don't give up brothers and sisters, it takes about 8 months after the last shot to start feeling better.

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You only had 1 shot of it? What was the reason and what was the dosage? Did you take any other antipsychotics before the shot?

It has been 3 months since my last shot and I still haven't felt any improvement. I am scared to death that I have been on this drug long enough for it to have caused permanent damage. I have yet to find a success story of anyone coming off this drug.

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Hello My daughter had Invega injection beginning off this month. It has stopped her psychosis and gotten rid of her anger. The first 12 days much pain in her neck and stiff ness could not stand it. She is motivated more, but a lot of restlessness cant sit or stand long.Also high prolactin level.Feels unbalanced. She does not have a psychiatrist yet after hospital trying to find one for Medicade.Dont like this med got it in hospital. Will try and change soon. just cant go through this again with other ingection No

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I have been off of invega sustenna for three months now. I received a 234mg loading dose and a week later a 156mg initial dose. So basically im screwed. Ive been reading up on it a lot and people who've just received the 117mg doses take anywhere from 5-7 months to get better and its probably going to take longer for me since i had close to 400mg in my body. I suffer from severe anhedonia, loss of interest in life, i am practically impotent. I cant feel any feeling in my shaft and only a tiny bit on my tip. I can climax, though it is really weak. The issues haven't gotten any better, neither has my apathy. Its probably going to take a year for me to recover enough to where i can function and get feelings back. But probably longer to fully recover back to my old self. God be with all of us who have had this horrible inj. I pray that we all recover and are able to lead our ordinary lives once again.

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This drug is strait from the nazi death / experimental camps it shoud never be used

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I only took the initial loading dose 154mg... After months...Still you will feel the effects but it won't bother you....on the 4th month mark...you will not even care about counting the months or days...Within 6 months of quitting, you will feel like the old you again...100% it gets better with time..... There will be 100% recovery!

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Hi, I was off invega sustenna for 17 months, no improvement and then I went to the hospital for delist. I’ve problems they put me back on invega sustenna, now I been on meds for 4 months. I don’t see how it’s helping me, no one doctors or my family doesn’t listen to me.. Just cause I look ok on the outside appearance wise doesn’t mean that there’s nothing wrong with me. It’s been 2 years, 2 years ago I was given 4 injections I never recovered. My life is living hell.. I don’t even feel alive anymore it seems I have no blood in my veins every time I go for blood test they have difficulty getting the blood also I don’t feel my heartbeat anymore, it’s like I’m dead and stuck in some after life situation .. is there anyone I can speak to?

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Re: Edouard (# 17)

Hi brother, did you recover from the side effects of invega sustenna injection?

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I have been on invega sustenna for 8 months and was wondering when my anxiety and restlessness and suicidal thoughts where going to go away, and I am not talking another drug for the complaining of the drug, that is all psychiatrists know is to write another prescription for how you feel, I am on a community treatment program that says I have to get my IV for another 3 months but I am stopping it because I feel like crap, total crap, no energy or even feel good about anything, these are antipsychotic drugs and they are not ment to be taken when they make you feel bad. But the biggest problem is that there are only a few of these drugs and the doctors do not ask if you have been on the same drug if your in their care, they just give it to you so you have to lump it when you take these medications.

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