saeed: survived from antidepressants and fighting antipsychotics Invega symptoms

[saeed]

Hi, 

 

i am new to the community i was reading and educating my self for a bout a week and just wanted to share my experience and welcome any suggestions and pardon my English as i am not native.

 

i started antidepressant back in 2013 with Zoloft and went through many SSRIs and SSNRIs medication along with Stimulate "Concerta" for my ADHD. i suffered withdrawals from SSNRI the most then shifted to Concerta which was my biggest fault i just understood i was in withdrawal stage and started taking stimulates. 

 

i had no knowledge in medication i thought the doctors knows the best than i do which is totally wrong, i had worst symptoms from EFFXOR than any pain in my life for 6 months.

most and extra withdrawal i faced psychologically and physically pain that can't be explained and i think you have read about it in the sites.

 

during the withdrawal i went to the doctor and perscripped me concerts as he said you have ADHD, at that time i had no idea what's wrong with me i was dead man walking with no hope in life, i wish i knew your site that time. 

 

i quitted the Concerta at once which it was the biggest fall in my life i went into parts and didn't know what's wrong with me.

 last June i was hospitalized for schizophrenia for 20 days, and start getting Invega Sustenna 100 for 5 months, since then i don't think i am the same person my life have changed totally.

 

i was suffering withdraws from concert plus the new poison "Invega", i read a lot about it and i thought to quit last dose was in October and reduced it to 75 and i quit. 

 

now i am taking; 

- Zopiclone 75

- Lexotanil 1.5

 

i am fighting withdrawals every minutes on my day i know i jumped too fast but i didn't have the knowledge about tapering the medicine that i have now. it's too late now i have to go further and hope for the best. 

 

i would love to know more people with Invega withdrawals and how they're serving as i need advices.

 

 

many thanks, 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, saeed.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

As Altostrata said in the following thread, the effects from Invega eventually wear off.

Jenniferdiana: Lexapro & Invega sustenna - Introductions and ...

For more information about how the effects wear off, please read the following link:

 

Tips for tapering off paliperidone (Invega)

 

If you will Google SurvivingAntidepressants.org Invega you will find other members' experiences with Invega.

 

It is all too common for doctors to misdiagnose withdrawal as some form of mental illness and then to prescribe yet another drug.  The withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing will fade with time and you will heal.  So that you have a better idea of what you're experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal and the healing process.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[saeed]

thank you very much for the information given, i updated the signature as requested. 

 

regards, 

[saeed]

Hi, 

 

i am facing severe withdrawals symptoms, a month after my last injection i had too painful stomaches and today i have been two month after last injection my brain is like a microwaves. i am totally lost and i can't tell is it from my previous meds or from invega it self. 

i can't sleep like when i was on the drug, more energetic less joy for life and extreme setback, the headache is killing me and i need your advice.

 

i quitted the invega shot suddenly and i am afraid of the withdrowls to get worse since i suffered from withdrawals from AD last year and don't want to experience that again.

 

should i take invega again (shot or pills) and taper after two month of quitting !? i know it's a big dission and i am really lost and i rely on your experience on this, for me i don't want it, it's caused me all the negative symptoms mentions plus the PSSD. i was a bout to get married before starting the drugs but still this is a big step in my life and really can't do that since i am not functioning well and i am not capable. 

 

it's really a painful day and feel waves and heat in my head and can't really live with it.

 

please help.

 

 

many thanks,

[ChessieCat]

Please carefully read Post #1 of this topic:

 

tips-for-tapering-off-invega-paliperidone

 

Instead of get an injection, please discuss whether tablets are available.

 

And Post #1 of this topic:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @saeed.

 

When did you last injection of Invega expire?

 

What happened to the zopiclone and bromazepam? What is your current daily drug schedule?

[saeed]

Hello, 

 

my last 75 mg (Invega Sustenna) shot was on 7th of October, as they they it expires within a month. supposedly expired on 7th of November. 

my daily drug scheduale;

- 1 tablet of Zopiclone 7.5 bed time

- 1 tablet of lexotanil 1.5 bed time  

 

i am still off invega and i thought about it, i have to get it off i can't live with it. 

 

 

thanks,

[ChessieCat]

MOD NOTE:

 

11 hours ago, saeed said:

1 tablet of lexotanil 1.5 bed time

 

From https://www.drugs.com/international/lexotanil-3mg.html

Ingredient matches for Lexotanil 3mg

Bromazepam is reported as an ingredient of Lexotanil 3mg in the following countries:

• Oman

 

Edited December 9, 2020 by ChessieCat

[saeed]

Hi,

 

I had very intense waves and finally the headache and the zaps stopped.

 

I feel physically better, still suffer from anhedonia and foggy brain my sleep is fine 6-7 hours. 
 

I am wondering will I be facing more waves like AD or AP is different case !?

 

thanks,  

[saeed]

Hi,

 

yesterday I had an appointment, I went there and my pdoc was on leave and I met another doc.

she played with my head as she stating I have bipolar and I should be taking medication such lithium , clozapine, serquele, abilify and ssri to not relapse ! 
 

since yesterday and I am thinking about it, I don’t want more medication as I want to heal and live normal but she was insisting and I got scared.

 

I still feel my brain is not functioning well, as I feel fog and my cognitive ability is very slow. Barely sleeping 6 hours and whenever I wake up at 5 am I try to sleep I go into dreaming mode and I don’t know if I am really sleeping or thinking!? Any idea ?

I have stomach upset annoying me and boredom. 
 

I know still taking my last two medication to help my sleeping, I am thinking to start tapering after a few weeks whenever I feel stable.

 

I appreciate your support.

 

many thanks,

[ChessieCat]

32 minutes ago, saeed said:

she stating I have bipolar

 

Once a person has taken a psychiatric drug the doctors cannot make a new diagnosis because the psychiatric drug or going off the drug might be the cause of the symptoms.

 

34 minutes ago, saeed said:

Barely sleeping 6 hours

 

Even though you would like to get more sleep, getting about 5 or 6 hours of sleep is quite good. 

 

35 minutes ago, saeed said:

whenever I wake up at 5 am I try to sleep I go into dreaming mode

 

This can happen to everybody, even people not taking or getting off a psychiatric drug.  It is because you do not go back into a deep sleep like you do during the night time.

 

See:

 

what-is-the-sleep-cycle

 

[saeed]

Thank you for the reply, she is not doing a new diagnosis, she was explaining my case as I was diagnosed with unknown psychosis ! 
 

I am just worried and afraid of having a new episodes. I will stick to my decision to not have a new medications and see how it goes.

 

appreciate your support. 

[saeed]

Hi,

 

i struggled with severe headaches for a few days and today with racing thought and high heart beat I never felt before and it was painful.

I was planning to start tapering lexotani I think it’s not a good time ! 
I am not sure it’s a withdrawal from invega or it’s from benzo ? 
 

kindly advice.

[saeed]

Hi,

I didn’t have enough knowledge when I started the thread ! I thought when I am done with antipsychotic “invega” the rest will be piece of cake with an totally wrong unfortunately.

 

I have had benzo withdraw symptoms when I quit high of abuse Xanax use in the bast and quitted them suddenly along with ADs and I suffered a lot I was very sick and I don’t know why I am not able to walk or chill for a bit! 
 

thank you guys for this site and the amount of information and the reading through people’s withdrawals I felt finally I knew what wrong with me.

 

I am having insomnia barely sleeping 3-4 hours and still in benzo and it’s really helping at all.

 

is it the right time to start taper or should I wait for the sleep get better ???

 

please help, I am afraid I can’t sleep at all if I start tapering !?

 

I really appreciate your help and guide in this regard.

 

many thanks,

[saeed]

Hi,

I am experiencing little window and I am really happy I didn’t have the usual anxiety and feel my mind less foggy. 
but still my cognitive skill very low and extreme fatigue. 
 

I want to taper the zopliclone and I don’t know how I can’t sleep even though I am tired I can’t sleep and I am sure it’s the benzo preventing from a sleep.

kindly advice how to get the zopiclone off?? 
 

thanks.

[saeed]

Hi, 

 

i have read a lot of thread through the site and it's very rich knowledge and really appreciate your time and effort you guys spend helping others and sharing experience. 

i suffered a lot in my life from criminal doctors perscribing me a lot of medicine and changing them without telling me proper tapering from previous one ! 

i have lost a lot my life trying to fix my mental health issues by medicine and i had no idea they're the cause of my problems.

i just remembered one of the doctors have given me antipsychotic medicine back on February 2019 and i took it for a few days and then i started to me SZ, i wanted to get the record from his clinic but i hate to come close to the building as it's hurting me a lot, he destroyed my life. 

 

i don't want to write an essay and i know you guys are super busy with much more things to do and i really appreciate it. 

i have fears from my last experience from AP, AD and Benzos withdrawal as quitted from them all at once and have been under pressure from Neuro-Emotions and was trying to find successful story from people who succeeded quitting Invega and to learn from them and to make sure what's happing to me is withdrawals not a relapse. 

i am thinking to hold the remains medications for now until i gain more confident then will start tapering. 

 

please help.

 

many thanks,     

[Lucy1983]

Hi. I am not familiar with all of the drugs you have taken but I think we are similar. What symptoms are you having that you question are WD or relapse?

 

Once I got past the physical symptoms I have done pretty well and am Very glad I am off of these drugs.

 

The neuro-emotions have played havoc with me though. Especially how I now see romantic relationships. But I am seeing improvement in that area.

 

I think being able to express my feelings on this site has helped me a lot. I have no one I can be that candid with personally.

 

I had a recent 3 day wave of headache, nausea and anger but that has passed. 

 

We will continue to heal

[saeed]

Hi Luci,

 

Hope you are doing well, my neuro-emotions is getting way much better than it was a since a few months ago I am sure it was withdrawal effect from the drug but it was very intense it hits me with flashback memories of my psychosis and makes me believe I am not normal it’s like I will never heal and shouldn’t stop the shot ! 
a lot of very complicated feelings, fatigue, anxiety, boredom, depression and it’s like the end of life. 
the increasing thoughts and depersonalisation and derelization killed me as I don’t know if I am being my self or doing anything the work from home helped me a lot for days of the week to keep my self away from the pressure as my cognitive ability is very low and can’t concentrate with anything not even TV and can’t hold a few minutes of conversation it’s like body without soul. 
 

I am still having stomach problem and lost my appetite but I feel brain is getting better with activity since yesterday. 
 

I know it’s long but the feeling is very hard to explain as it comes as package can’t differentiate most of the time. 
 

You have been off psychic medication since November I can see that which is great and congratulation for your success quitting all of them. 
how you doing these days ? Hope you’re doing well. 
 

 

[saeed]

Hi,

 

today I passed 4 months off the shot, feeling is better anhedonia way much better still hard to enjoy things but it’s better than before.

stomach squeezing stopped appetite is better. Brain function is getting better with time no sign of psychosis this is the best part thankfully.

I met my doc. Two days ago and explain the feeling and depression I am having and she was very supportive and encouraging that I passed the critical stage of withdrawal after stoping the shot and this is really encouraging. 
 

she insisted to take lamicital 50 mg to help with depression and other symptoms  and give my mind a peaceful time since my panic attack and increasing  thoughts driving me crazy. I took the pill yesterday I had bit of side effect but feeling much better and bit hyper but I can talk and put words together and have a conversation normally without blank thoughts. 
I know I shouldn’t take any medication but I needed help to cope with my depression and stand strong with invega withdrawals. 
 

I hope you all heal soon, stay strong and calm.

[ChessieCat]

50mg seems to be a large dose.

 

Please see this post by SA's founder Altostrata:

 

  

On 10/4/2011 at 9:21 AM, Altostrata said:

Phil, you're not off Lexapro yet, is that right?

 

About Lamictal, here's the problem: Not many doctors know how to use Lamictal and recognize when to increase and when to decrease dosage, plus how it's affecting the withdrawal symptoms. They also don't understand the hypersensitivity issues and insist on doses that are far too high to accomplish what we want -- to support the nervous system in healing instead of inducing yet another drug-dominated state. Some people report bad reactions to doses of Lamictal that are too high.

 

For some people with a different variety of withdrawal syndrome, taking lamotrigine may not be the right approach.

 

Here are a few tips about using Lamictal that I learned from my doctor. I'm not an expert and I don't know how this would be applied to any particular person:

 

- Dosages are individual, need to be started at very low amounts, and slowly titrated up.

 

- He starts everyone out at 2mg or less. Because I was so hypersensitive, he started me on 0.5mg. He likes to give a dosage a try for 4 days to see how it works, get beyond initial wooziness, etc.

 

- The trick is to find exactly the right "sweet spot" for your nervous system. At one time, I started at .5mg, went up to 2.5mg, backed down again to 1mg, eventually settling at 1.07mg. In a second phase, I titrated up to 5.4mg. (I am currently tapering off.) Now, someone else's optimal dose may be 24.3mg or 38.2mg or 10.1mg.

 

- For someone with withdrawal insomnia, the "sweet spot" is a dosage at which sleep is increasing towards normal and side effects are negligible.

 

- Lamictal does increase GABA somewhat while decreasing glutamatergic transmission. However, the GABA system needs glutamate to make GABA so too much Lamictal will have a paradoxical effect -- you don't want to go too high.

 

- Signs that you're taking too much Lamictal: Queasiness or headache (or both), sleeplessness, agitation.

 

- Initial side effects can be wooziness, grogginess, sleepiness, lack of energy.

 

- To firmly establish the newly revived healthy brain patterns, expect to stay on the Lamictal for about a year. He has had patients who went off the medication and were fine, they didn't need to take it anymore.

 

- In severe withdrawal insomnia, deep sleep is the first to go and the last to come back. It's important because human growth hormone is secreted in deep sleep and it is physically and mentally restorative. When deep sleep returns, emotional numbing will lift.

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED LATER IN THIS TOPIC

 

How does low-dose lamotrigine help withdrawal symptoms?

 

 

 

Why doesn't everyone just take lamotrigine for withdrawal syndrome?

 

 

Also, lamotrigine might not work at all for your withdrawal symptoms.

 

I'm tapering and I have withdrawal symptoms. Can I take lamotrigine with my drug?

 

 

 

There is also the risk of a drug-drug interaction with lamotrigine.

 

I read about a deadly reaction you might get to lamotrigine. How likely is it?

 

 

Is lamotrigine good for benzo withdrawal syndrome?

 

 

 

Is lamotrigine addicting? Do I have to taper off?

 

 

Will lamotrigine help me sleep?

 

 

 

Is lamotrigine hard to get?

 

 

What dosage should I start at? Does lamotrigine need to be tapered? Did you have trouble going off? What about Gianna Kali, didn't she have a terrible withdrawal from lamotrigine? How long did you take it for withdrawal syndrome? How long will I need to stay on it? How long does it take to work?

 

 

Does it matter which version of lamotrigine we get?

 

 

As you will want to start at 2mg or lower, the only form of lamotrigine that comes in 2mg tablet is the chewable, dispersable tablet. (Otherwise, the usual starting dosage is 25mg immediate-release lamotrigine.) You might also use a compounded liquid to take a small amount. See Tips for tapering off Lamictal (lamotrigine)

 

Any extended-release form, such as Lamictal XR, will not be appropriate, as the dosage sizes are too large and you will not be able to make a liquid from the tablets.

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Please also note that Lamictal needs to be tapered:

 

tips-for-tapering-off-lamictal-lamotrigine

 

[saeed]

Thank you Chessiecat for the prompt reply and the information given. 

I took 25mg instead of 50, I cut the pill into half and will see how it go.

 

 

[Altostrata]

Good to hear you're feeling better, saeed. Up to you if you want to continue on a psychiatric drug.

 

Please let us know if you want information about tapering.

[saeed]

Hi,

thank you altostrata for your comments and really appreciate your effort running this site and helping people.

I have a lot of fear from invega withdrawals, I suffered a lot last year from the medication and I have phobia to face withdrawals or psychosis.

I am looking forward to feel stable so I can taper the rest of the medication. 
 

many thanks,  

 

[almuPA]

Hello saeed,

I was wondering how are you doing these days?

[saeed]

11 hours ago, almuPA said:

Hello saeed,

I was wondering how are you doing these days?

Hi AlmuPa,

 

I am doing fine, a lot of positive mental changes in congestion, memories and feelings.

I am not being myself as these changes happening too fast positive and negative like bored and depressed sometime feel happy which I didn’t experience for long time.

my mind is struggling with these changes and racing thoughts comes with the waves and sometimes I feel those days will never end. 
 

comparing to where I was months ago I doing much better.

I start tapering lexotanil 1.5 mg by cutting the pill into quarters and I am feeling the withdrawals from the benzo already.

 

hope this time will pass and be medication free soon.

 

thanks,

 

[almuPA]

Hello saeed,

I am glad to read that some positive changes are happening to you:) 

4 hours ago, saeed said:

am not being myself as these changes happening too fast

I relate so much with this. It can be challenging as sometimes de don't recognize ourselves in this procesos, but at the same time we are learning a lot.

Hang in there,

Almu.

[saeed]

Hi,

I started tapering lexotanil 1.5 to 0.75 in 19 days gradually by cutting the pill into quarters.

I am 5months and 2weeks since my last invega shot and I am noticing changes in my behaviour all of the sudden I became hyper active which scary to me, I used to be dead man since I started my shot on last June and to be hyper active at once is making me behave weird in a sense of being talkative and moving fast maybe only for me but comparing to where I was functioning mentally and physically is too fast.

I am just asking is this normal changes happening to me or it’s the benzo withdrawals plus the invega?!

I am afraid of having psychosis symptoms to be honest! 
 

appreciate your support.

 

thanks,

[saeed]

hi,

I am getting to worse sleeping hours as the drugs weaning off from my body and effecting me psychologically and my behaviour is been “hyper”.

Maybe it’s getting back to normal but I am not getting use to be up to this speed as have been too low.

should I hold my lexotanil taper until I get stable ?! Too many changes happening in me.

I am afraid benzo taper trigger more invega withdrawals?!

 

thank you.

[saeed]

Hi,

 

it’s been 9 months since my last injection and still suffering.

 

I was feeling god yesterday I thought this is it am healing and was hit today with worse withdrawals.

heavy head, headache, tremors in the back and my feet, feel dizzy, nausea, extreme fatigue, blank mind I can’t even have complete idea in my head the process is very slow worse than where I was weeks ago.

I do have other poison to taper but I can’t do that at the moment I am having worst time to deal with those symptoms.

 

it’s been long ride and I am still hanging on and I don’t know when the circus going to stop.

 

any comments or idea from people who went through this hell from AP withdrawals. 
 

thanks,

 

[saeed]

Update,

 

feeling better since last night am not sure if this healing or a window hope it get long as I am mentally getting better but physically still exhausted and has no power.

 

thanks,

[saeed]

Unfortunately it was a window, and I got hit back by tough withdrawals headaches, nausea, strong anhedonia, fatigue and blank mind and sadness.

 

I don’t know how long this going to be and I am still hoping things will get better.

 

[saeed]

Hi,

 

anyone have taken Invega sustenna or AP shots to tell me when is all miserable withdrawals going to get easy ?!!

 

things are getting better but other symptoms raised, forehead pressure neck pain, arms pain, nausea, akathisia,  anhidonia, stomachache, loss appetite, boredom.

 

things got better such as memory, able to make sentence and have conversation for a few minutes, but it was a window that didn’t last long !

 

looking forward to hear from you guys.

 

thanks, 

[saeed]

Hi,

 

The forehead pressure is 70% gone, but the pressure went to my up and back head. 
I was in window for three days and I hope this will be permanent, I still facing the fatigue, headache, shoulder and up back pain and nausea is getting worse today I am pushing myself to eat to get better.

 

memories got better but today is more foggy I don’t know if I have Alzheimer’s or this is part of the AP withdrawals.

still my conversation doesn’t make sense as a normal people do and I don’t remember how normal it’s.

just wanted to share with you as I have no one would understand what we are going through and to keep it as note for myself for future progress. 
  Thanks,

[saeed]

Hi,

hope you all doing alright !

I had paranoia months ago and had to get on drugs and I went to serequel 100XR it was scary experience and was afraid to go through it again it seems Invega ruined my brain and I am really in extreme Anhedonia and depression. 
it seems I can’t get off AP forever, I was bedridden for year with extreme fatigue and the serequel made it worse. My thought all over the place with extreme nightmare and vivid dreams. 
I don’t see any light ahead of my life it seems to be long forever.
I don’t know what’s right and wrong anymore. 

thanks,