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invega (envega?) for bipolar

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Posted 3/21/2007 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
 

My husband has been on bipolar meds for 15 months after having horrible rages, being violent, and then being suicidal.

His medicines have been added to during this time.  Yesterday, his seroquel and lithium were both dropped while the cymbalta was maintained.  His doc added invega.  I haven't found out much about this drug except that it was approved in Dec. '06 for schizophrenia.  Is it being widely used for bipolar disorder?  Is he likely to go through a bad "crazy spell" while his body gets used to this new combination?  I'm worried about my own safety, as well as his.

 

Posted 3/21/2007 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I went from being on Zyprexa & Prozac to just the Invega and it literally has driven me off the deep end. I have to go tomorow to be put on something else because It didn't work for me. however, each person is different so i'd tell him to try it for the 2 week period but if you notice him becoming withdrawn and excitable in certain situations, then i'd confront the doctor about it.
Posted 3/30/2007 7:53 PM (GMT 0)

Here's an update on Invega:

It is day 11 for my husband and he has been mildly manic now for 3 days.  He went off camping alone but will call me each evening.  I'm afraid to go and join him even though I start spring break later today.  I'm really worried about him.  His doctor added to the dosage, but he needs and anti-manic drug.

He gets really angry and rage-filled.  I sure hope he levels off soon.  I still cannot find that Invega is listed for BD treatment.  Anyone know about Invega and BD?  APG

Posted 12/15/2007 10:31 PM (GMT 0)

I know this was several months ago but I'm curious as to how your husband is doing now?  I have Bipolar 1, mixed, rapid daily and weekly/monthly cycling, disassociation, anxiety and panic disorder.  There were no meds that could help me till about 6 years ago and I have been through all that have been mentioned in this thread plus more.  I could not tolerate 99% of them for one reason or another.  The only staple has been Neurontin (Gabapentin) which I take a maximum of 1800 mgs a day and it takes the edge off the top and the bottom so I don't feel like I need to crawl out of my own skull nor am I suicidal.  I was told about a year and a half ago that there was nothing more to try for me.  Just this past Wednesday my Psychiatrist started me on Invega and outside of the fact that it makes me very, very, very sleepy and feeling drugged when I wake up for a half hour to two hours later...I am finding it very helpful.  It seems to have taken most of the deep, gut eating sadness that I always feel no matter what else I am feeling and I actually go through  my day feeling more calm and smiling at times where I was usually crying off and on all day and night.  This is a wonderful thing for me.  It's been 4 days now and I'm finding it very helpful.  I also have always had a lot of trouble sleeping since I was a child and this is helping me get some good sleep for a change.  I know it's not suppose to make you sleepy but I always react the opposite of what studies show with other people.  If it's suppose to make you sleepy, it always keeps me awake and vise versa.

Oh yes, I am just on the 3 mg.  Because I am so sensitive to all medications I always have to start at the lowest dose and many times half of the lowest dose if possible.

Post Edited (Denise Johnson) : 12/15/2007 3:59:19 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/16/2007 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dentelle,

Welcome to the board. I hope you find a home here where you can discuss your meds and get some support for your moods. We're all about that here. I'm glad to here the new Invega seems to be helping.

serafena
Posted 6/11/2008 1:43 AM (GMT 0)

My son was just put on Invega today for bipolar.  He is will be 13 next month and has had a lot of rage, aggression and anger.  He has been on Zyprexa and Abilify along with Trileptal, Clonidine, and Adderall XR.  This combo hasn't been working so the doctor took him off the Zyprexa and Abilify and added the Invega.  Has anyone experienced good results with the Invega?

Posted 6/11/2008 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Roey,

Welcome to HealingWell. I haven't had any personal experience with Invega, so I can't answer your question, but I did want to greet you. Hopefully someone will happen along soon. I get the sense, just from being around for a while, that Invega isn't used nearly as much as other drug combos. But let's wait and see. How's your son doing on it so far?

serafena
Posted 7/27/2010 2:58 PM (GMT 0)

I am 57 years old and have recently been prescribed Invega 3 mg. I am bipolar with a pretty connsistant history of bipolar depression. If you look that one up you will find that agressiveness and hostility are usually apart of the depressive cycle. I feel the medication has stabalized my moods. I have been on it now for three weeks. I went to 6 mg but found it made me too restless so I went back to the 3 mg dose.  My wife fears for our safety when I became severely agressive and hostile. I seem to be doing just fine. Lets both hope it lasts. I for me and you for you husband. :-)

Posted 3/6/2012 8:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Rispersone for 12 years fro Bi-polar..... It was my miracle medication. It changed my life, but with all miracles must come consequences. I had most all side effects. I gained 80 LBS over 5 months with out any additional food intake. The most severe side effect was drowsiness. Up until I stated the Rispersone I had a pretty high tolerance for most medication, and rarely had any adverse reactions to ANY medication. I weighed the pro's and Con's. My mental health was far more important to me then the repercussions of the medication. Then 9 months ago I had a son at the age of36. I NEVER thought I would be a mother, and my son is my LIFE! That being said, the deep sleep that I enter when I take the Rispersone is not compatible with a newborn. I have drastically decreased my dosage from 3mg to 1mg (taken in .25mg tabs 4X daily). Still I can't seem to shake the exhaustion. I have tried 3 other (Traditional) bi-polar meds over the years with NO success. I had asked my doctor many times for help and it wasn't until today when I sat in his office in tears that it dawned on him that I should try INVEGA.... He gave a 2 week sample supply. I am trying to research it, but not having very much luck. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 3/7/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Julie,

You've replied to an old thread so I don't expect you to get answers from previous posters on this thread. Invega is not one of the drugs that comes up frequently here. I might have heard of it only once or to twice.

Your Dr. has your (and your baby boy's) best interest in mind. Don't be afraid to ask questions directly to your Dr. You might find drugs.com to be a valuable resource.

Best wished to you! XOXO
Posted 5/25/2012 10:42 AM (GMT 0)

I have been on Invega for three years 9mg, something that you all need to understand is that Invega is mainly for schizophrenia, for me it helps with intruding thoughts, thoughts of hurting others. I stayed in my room for two years afraid of going around my family, knifes, forks, anything that could potentially be a weapon would give me an intruding thought. schizophrenia isnt just auditory sounds "hearing voices or sounds" it also includes intrusive thoughts, bipolar is highs and lows depressive and manic "happy". so if you want an answer if invega is good for bipolar dissorder I dont know if its good for schizophrenia or schizoeffective dissorder its ideal.

:D

Posted 5/25/2012 10:52 AM (GMT 0)
Invega dosent make me tired but it does raise my heart rate. I hope that it works for you because it has done wonders for me but in the gamble of mental illness all people are different im more on the skitzo spectrum, I dont hear voices but i have weird thoughts but thanks to Invega they have been eleviated not completely but to a place where i can be happy and live a great life also moving up to 12mg from where i am right now 9mg would do me good i think... anyways. i dont have any odd side effects just rapid heart rate also if you want to lose weight try cutting out sugar, and white bread and tortillas and just recently found out im pre diabetic, i was on seroquel and depakot fausly given by a bad doctor :( and gained large amounts of weight did no good for me mentally just rapid weight gain and same sad depressive mood. im on Invega 9mg once in the morning Topamax 100mg to times daily (gabapentin) 300 2 at night works great for me no weird side effects I would try out the invega.... its worth a shot..... good luck.
Posted 5/25/2012 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi pumpkinking,

I'm going to lock this thread because it is 5 years old. You are welcome to start a new thread if you want to discuss Invega further! :)

You are completely right-on about improving your diet. There is a lot of interest on the forum for losing weight gain from medications. I think you will find a lot of support. I was lucky... once I got off seroquel, the weight disappeared. Moreso to low-grade hypomania and a reduced (healthy) appetite than anything else.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum. I'm looking forward to meeting you on other threads!
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