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Mental Health Coming Off Invega Sustenna (Paliperidone) v.2

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withdrawal period happens for a few months after stopping the invega. zombie phase comes next and is the bulk of the healing for roughly 8 months.

when the first window hits it's like nothing else you've ever experienced. it's so good, your so hyped and people usually post about it. it lasts typically a day or two.

then windows and waves happen for a few months until you are fully healed. waves are days were your down but not like during the zombie phase, they're a lil better. windows aren't like the first one but are better days than zombie phase and waves. both lessen in degrees until they stop and your days are just normal again.

your welcome. it's what we're all here for. we help each other out.

hope this helps.
 
Hey guys and gals, thought it's time for another update. My last injection was March (I think) and most side effects have worn off. Cognitive functions are working normally, sometimes speech slows down but no problems with vocabulary or organising thinking, able to ask questions and keep conversations flowing. Short term memory is functioning properly making it easier to learn and retain information so those worried about returning to work or studying do not fear this will recover. Social anxiety has completely gone so no issues walking through crowds or speaking to friends and strangers. However, anxiety in general hasn't completely dissapeared and I do get anxious about life from time to time so be aware of this. Self confidence is okay but not quite as strong as pre invega, there are more doubts but I keep telling myself this is just a side effect of invega so try not worry. Motivation and passion for life have returned but I am a little lazier than before mostly due to fatigue so I recommend you set goals and push yourself. If you've been following my previous posts you would know that insomnia has been an issue for me and I can report it has improved slightly and I'm now able to get 7 hours of solid sleep per night. My goal is to reach 8 hours of solid sleep a night by the end of the year so fingers crossed this will be another surprise recovery for me. Two months ago I would have never thought this was possible. Recovery is real, keep in mind the timeframe of those who have healed before us, I'm finding out on this journey that their timeframes for healing are pretty accurate. Trust in the healing process and stay positive.
 
@invegauser : thanks again man.

Day 140

It is an other day of school. 2 hours of class feel like 6 hours pre invega. I woke up earlier than usual without feeling exhausted. I had an English class (since I'm a french college student). Everything went well.
Little reminder: I had one 100 mg Xeplion shot on 21st May and a 75 mg shot on the 28th May. (156 and 117 mg Invega Sustenna). And I think I'll be healed next month. (I'd be doing a lot better without the fatigue).
 
Day 60

No real improvements, been having vivid dreams. I think I hit a window a few days ago where I felt like I was on top of the world and back to myself but only to have it diminished after, so that must be the windows and waves everyone's talking about. I haven't felt like myself yet I have vivid nightmares, but I haven't felt like I'm on the 234mg of invega anymore either. I just hope the rest of this process goes swiftly and I feel better as it happens. Thinking about going to the gym but I feel like crap because I'm so weak now. Overall just a day of not doing much but trying to feel better.
 
robe11 said:
Hey guys and gals, thought it's time for another update. My last injection was March (I think) and most side effects have worn off. Cognitive functions are working normally, sometimes speech slows down but no problems with vocabulary or organising thinking, able to ask questions and keep conversations flowing. Short term memory is functioning properly making it easier to learn and retain information so those worried about returning to work or studying do not fear this will recover. Social anxiety has completely gone so no issues walking through crowds or speaking to friends and strangers. However, anxiety in general hasn't completely dissapeared and I do get anxious about life from time to time so be aware of this. Self confidence is okay but not quite as strong as pre invega, there are more doubts but I keep telling myself this is just a side effect of invega so try not worry. Motivation and passion for life have returned but I am a little lazier than before mostly due to fatigue so I recommend you set goals and push yourself. If you've been following my previous posts you would know that insomnia has been an issue for me and I can report it has improved slightly and I'm now able to get 7 hours of solid sleep per night. My goal is to reach 8 hours of solid sleep a night by the end of the year so fingers crossed this will be another surprise recovery for me. Two months ago I would have never thought this was possible. Recovery is real, keep in mind the timeframe of those who have healed before us, I'm finding out on this journey that their timeframes for healing are pretty accurate. Trust in the healing process and stay positive.
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Glad to hear the good news man, I hope the rest of us heal swiftly. Can't wait for this hell to be over.
 
@offvega: There is an end to this nightmare but you have to be patient. That's the most important advice I can give you. In my personal opinion nothing will speed up the recovery process, your body needs time to recycle old receptors and form new ones, as far as I'm aware no medication or physical activity will provoke this. Obviously you can do things to make you feel a little better but invega will eventually drag you back into the doldrums, especially how early you are in withdrawal. Recovery happens month by month not day by day, another important piece of advice. When I was heavily affected by invega I thought recovery would never happen but as the months went by things started to improve and slowly returned to my old self. From everything I have read here 8 months to one year is the magical period where most people are almost healed. You have a long way to go so just hang out and count down the months.
 
I?m at 7 months now and I feel a lot better, however my body still feels fatigued when I try to excercise. Also I feel dumber than I did preinvega, especially when having conversations. My headspace feels weird too, as I?ve said before, kind of like I drank too much cough syrup, not as severe as a few months ago, but still noticeable
 
Day 141

Third day of class this week. I'm still using the momentum I had by going to class on monday and tuesday. Luckily, I have a little bit of motivation and I understand the importance of having daily activities. I still can't exercise the way I want to but I notice just a tiny bit of added energy each day.
Just 12 days before reaching five months off and the actual minimum time of remission stated by Janssen-Cilag.
 
@invegaisnotgood: You are at a similar timeframe as me, any side effects still bothering you? I don't get fatigued when I exercise but I do get drowsy immediately after I eat food. I certainly don't feel as sharp in the mind as I did pre invega but I'm able to perform work tasks okay so that's what I'm judging it on. I reckon next month you might have another breakthrough, let me know how it goes.

@zack365: I'm impressed you're able to go to classes and study so soon after shots, how was it in the beginning? Are you able to learn and retain information? Do you feel anxious in class? Maybe you should try strength exercises with cardio, that's what I do and physically I feel great. Motivation will come back, keep setting goals and pushing yourself and eventually the satisfaction will return. Remember, it took me six months to even feel a little motivated and now I'm just as motivated as before invega.
 
robe11 said:
@invegaisnotgood: You are at a similar timeframe as me, any side effects still bothering you? I don't get fatigued when I exercise but I do get drowsy immediately after I eat food. I certainly don't feel as sharp in the mind as I did pre invega but I'm able to perform work tasks okay so that's what I'm judging it on. I reckon next month you might have another breakthrough, let me know how it goes.

@zack365: I'm impressed you're able to go to classes and study so soon after shots, how was it in the beginning? Are you able to learn and retain information? Do you feel anxious in class? Maybe you should try strength exercises with cardio, that's what I do and physically I feel great. Motivation will come back, keep setting goals and pushing yourself and eventually the satisfaction will return. Remember, it took me six months to even feel a little motivated and now I'm just as motivated as before invega.
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It was harder than I thought. At the beginning, I was anxious, couldn't stay focused very well. And then I went through extreme fatigue. It lasted about a week and a half. I went running once but it's nearly impossible to lift. Now, I'm feeling alright but I still feel tired. I love sports and exercise whenever I feel ready to grind. I'd be doing ten times better only if I wasn't fatigued.
 
robe11 said:
@offvega: There is an end to this nightmare but you have to be patient. That's the most important advice I can give you. In my personal opinion nothing will speed up the recovery process, your body needs time to recycle old receptors and form new ones, as far as I'm aware no medication or physical activity will provoke this. Obviously you can do things to make you feel a little better but invega will eventually drag you back into the doldrums, especially how early you are in withdrawal. Recovery happens month by month not day by day, another important piece of advice. When I was heavily affected by invega I thought recovery would never happen but as the months went by things started to improve and slowly returned to my old self. From everything I have read here 8 months to one year is the magical period where most people are almost healed. You have a long way to go so just hang out and count down the months.
Click to expand...

thank you I feel like I cannot escape this hell when I feel smarter some days than others, other times I'm just confused, not sure what's going on with me, noticing improvements in my thought process though. I hope I return to my old self, cannot wait. I'm only two months along the process but I feel better already
 
@zack365: fatigue is a very normal side effect of invega and low dopamine. Unfortunately we have to push ourselves more than the average person. I still suffer from fatigue because when I get home from work I don't want to do anything just sit on the couch and watch TV. Maybe have planned coffee breaks or energy drinks before classes or workouts. That's what I do and it does help with fatigue for short periods of time. Also, set out a good plan for the day or week and do your best to follow the plan. Keep grinding.
 
@offvega: becareful that you don't get your hopes up too early. Remember what people have been saying about windows and waves. Invega is very good at tricking you into thinking your making progress and before you know it the side effects return. I don't want to scare you because you sound like you're doing very well and staying positive so keep up the good mindset. There is a definite process in healing and the only cure I know of is time. Hang on I'll get back to you later...
 
Hi all, 2 months after my second and last shot I had extreme constipation, but it went away a week later. The weird thing is that I am 7 months off Invega and now I have 5 days with constipation. I would like to know is this is from Invega or it is something else?


I would appreciate any help. Thanks.
 
@LifeAfterInvega: congratulations on being healed. we needed another recovery post. very good advice my dude. godspeed.

@zack2365: your welcome, anytime.

@robe11: thanks for checking in. you've made quiet a bit of improvement and your mentality is in the right frame of mind. keep it up.

@offvega: robe11 is right, those waves pull you back out again but not as bad as before as i'm sure your noticing. it just keeps happening back and forth until one day you wake up and stop posting cause your healed. better to feel windows and waves then zombie phase?

@Empty1128: yes, your body slows down metabolizing when your asleep but your body and the brain (as well as soul and emotions) are taking care of themselves, getting the rest they need so when your awake they can work harder at the healing process. it's also one way we deal with stress we didn't handle while we're awake. the poison is potent stuff.

@I_WANT_TO_RECOVER: your muscles are tight, your internal pressure is higher, your internal heat is higher, your bio rhythms are up plus the stress of what your going through is all part of this. on top of that the poison adjusts the body chemistry, it's not permanent but it definitely is noticeable to quiet a few (the rest of us notice changes in eating habits and what not). so your bowel movements are affected like this. i had the same thing towards the beginning and it wasn't until this last year it happened again but has stopped. going number 1 and number 2 in all shapes and forms is affected but those who have come before us and healed as well as some of those who are close to healing are no longer experiencing this. this too shall pass (no pun intended).
 
Guys so I took Ativan for two to three weeks 1mg everynight to help with the anxiety. It did wonders at first but then I remembered it is a benzo so I tapered myself off. Now I?m feeling extreme fatigue and extreme low motivation. Is this withdrawal from the benzo or a hit from inVega? I doubt it?s the inVega cause I?ve never felt this terrible, but also I doubt it?s the benzo cause I?ve taken them in the past(klonipin) but for a longer period but I?ve never encountered this withdrawal side effect? Also I took it for only around two weeks how can this happen?
 
Remember I took inVega for four months total so if I had such an adverse reaction to it I would have felt it in the past, that?s why I think it?s the benzo withdrawal. And don?t lecture me please I know it was dumb of me to take the benzo but I couldn?t stand the anxiety anymore.
 
Day 142

I know some people have breakthrough when they notice some huge improvements. Personnally my healing was slow, but consistant. I can see my real personnality emerging from the dark tunnel.
I had again a good night of sleep. I have 1 good night of sleep out of 2 in average. I still experience side effects like fatigue, low motivation, depersonalisation but at least I can go to school without feeling too much of a crap and socialise. Unfortunately it is difficult to give an exact healing time. But I'll keep on having faith and believing I'll be healed around mid-november. Peace
 
@shadypenguin: you learned first hand why we are hesitant to use substances while healing. i take ativan as needed but not for anxiety, it's potent for being only 1 mg and i know people who take 3mg on a daily basis. i always felt a lag in healing the next day whenever i did take it. it's typical while healing that when you take any substance you will experience a harsher withdrawal or comedown from it than you did pre-invega. give it a few more days and see how things develop. giving something time isn't about waiting this whole thing out, it's about seeing what develops and what you can do from there. it's called learning your limits, no one ever took anything like invega before so we have to learn the hard way sometimes. part and parcel of being human. no crap giving, just a refresher. your going to be ok.

@zack365: your healing progress and outstanding attitude are not only making the rest of us look like noobs but your also an inspiration and we're behind you all the way. keep it up.
 
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