66 year old woman committed suicide after Invega Sustenna?

[Narshe81]

I have been forced to take Invega Sustenna for almost a year and am now trying to deal with its horrible side effects after having stopped it 3 months ago. I have been searching online for more information about coming off this drug and have found this:

https://www.mediguard.org/medication...invegasustenna

Look for a poster name Sukilena Quin. She posted complaining about Invega Sustenna side effects, about how it is similar to latex poisoning, and suicide. That post was from 2012.

This is an article I found that happened just earlier this year:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/..._quin_fire.php

A 66 year old woman by the name of Sukilena Quin from San Fransico was killed in an apartment fire set by herself.

I did a bit more digging and found that this was indeed her.



I am scared. I am also going through some really nasty side effects of this horrible drug and I am losing hope.

 

What do you guys think about the death? Think it was related to the medication she was on and that she could no longer take it anymore?

[hagar]

I'm really sorry you're still struggling so hard with this, but I'd imagine that pretty much every psych med has any number of suicides blamed on it. I don't think anyone can confirm whether it was the med or not. Have you spoken to your doctor about how much you're continuing to suffer?

[jt07]

People generally don't commit suicide by setting fire to their apartment. My guess would be that she was in the middle of a psychotic episode when she set fire to her apartment. I doubt that Invega Sustena caused this, but of course, I'm not a doctor.

 

Edit: Hagar is correct. Many psychiatric drugs are blamed for suicides never minding the fact that we who take them are all crazy.

Edited December 10, 2013 by jt07

[CeremonyNewOrder]

I'm tired of hearing fear mongering about Invega on this site. If you don't like getting an injection then be med-compliant and work with your doctor on finding an appropriate medication. And stop reading anti-psychiatry loony propaganda. Invega has personally helped me and in combination with other meds has kept me from being suicidal.

[mcjimjam]

I don't know, most of what she seems to have posted are little more than crazed ramblings (Latex poisening?). I think jt is probably right. She probably set the fire in a psychotic state rather than to commit suicide.

 

"...Where did the gay community come from if not the chicken egg industry?" - That's from her blog. 

 

ETA: Also, is it really likely that the depot form of Invega is so much worse than the tablets? It's the same thing, just the depot is given against people's will, and a lot of those people are prone to paranoia. I think if you forcibly inject a paranoid person with anything, even a placebo, they will have all kinds of terrible effects. 

Edited December 10, 2013 by mcjimjam

[DanTheMan]

I'm tired of hearing fear mongering about Invega on this site. If you don't like getting an injection then be med-compliant and work with your doctor on finding an appropriate medication. And stop reading anti-psychiatry loony propaganda. Invega has personally helped me and in combination with other meds has kept me from being suicidal.

 

I don't think Narshe means to be fear mongering.. Narshe is himself afraid and has obviously been searching EVERYWHERE for answers to his problems. Narshe is looking for support like the rest of us.

 

 

 

"...Where did the gay community come from if not the chicken egg industry?" - That's from her blog. 

Narshe, maybe this lady had a few more issues than just the Invega? I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Narshe81]

The funny thing is was when I was admitted to the hospital for my psychosis I was compliant with meds. I took everything they gave me there. Once I was released and was out on CTO (Community Treatment Order), I had to start seeing a pdoc on a regular basis. The first appointment there they said that because I wasn't compliant (wtf) so they had to give me Invega Sustenna. I tried to explain to them that I hated needles, always have, and that I would rather just take the pills. They didn't want to hear any of it. I could not prove that I was compliant and ended up having gotten 10 of those injections.

 

I am not making any of this up. I had a brief psychotic episode and thought that antipsychotics were going to help me. The pdoc only told me that it may cause Tardive Dyskinesia in a small percentage of people. That was the only thing he told me was the side effects. I then learned a few weeks after my first injection that it wasn't the truth and now I have a long list of side effects. I explained to my pdoc after every month before my injection that I was feeling worse. He finally let me off the injection 3 months ago.

 

I am glad that Invega worked for you. You took the pill form, I would assume. I guess it's just not for everyone because I cannot live like this and have never suffered this much before in my life. I am not even going to get into details on how close I was to end it while having to feel like this.

 

It is not fear mongering when it happens to you. 

[Narshe81]

Ok This is messed up. I just found out just now after having searched her name online and found her facebook. She is on my facebook friendlist for some reason. I have added more than 1000 people on my facebook friendlist and forgot how I met them all. I think it's because she's into Buddhism which is why I have her on my list....!

 

RIP Sukilena... 

 

Also I have been reading her posts on her facebook account and I think you guys are right. I think she was dealing with more than just Invega Sustenna. Her posts are pretty out there... I think she was in a bad place mentally when it all happened.

 

She posted stuff like these:

"SALT IV causes the hysteria around me: this is the name of a TREATY LEFT ON OUR MOON BY ONE OR MORE GOVERNMENTS STARTING WITH THE AMERICAN, "USA". Treaty had to do with extra-terrestrial remains linked to those from all our planets CLONING LABS"

 

 

[Parapluie]

Yeah, she sounds like she was quite ill. I honestly feel pretty bad that we are posting her words from facebook and her blog on this site though. She wasn't stable at the time, and now that she's dead, she can't defend herself. 

 

Anyway, I'm sorry Narshe that you experienced so many side effects and felt/were coerced into taking Invega Sustenna. Do you take anything now?

[Narshe81]

Yeah, she sounds like she was quite ill. I honestly feel pretty bad that we are posting her words from facebook and her blog on this site though. She wasn't stable at the time, and now that she's dead, she can't defend herself. 

 

Anyway, I'm sorry Narshe that you experienced so many side effects and felt/were coerced into taking Invega Sustenna. Do you take anything now?

 

Thanks Parapluie,

 

Right now I am supposed to be taking 30mg of Mirtazapine per night, but I haven't been doing that. I was reading up on SSRI and its long term side effects and got scared and stopped it after 3 days. My pdoc still prescribe them to me but he doesn't know that I haven't been taking the antidepressant. This is because I have also read from many others that antidepressants will not do anything for neuroleptic induced anhedonia.

 

I realize that I may have been a bit too pessimistic about my recovery and have been looking into too many horror stories about Invega Sustenna for my own good. It's just really difficult right now for me to be logical, feeling the way I am feeling now. It just has been a really difficult year for me. I have been living like this for an entire year now.

[Parapluie]

I'm sorry to hear you are suffering so much. There are a lot of people here that can relate to your symptoms. Feel free to post in the schizophrenia board about your problems as well, as some people may be able to chime in about what has helped them.

 

You know, anhedonia is actually a symptom of schizophrenia. It's a well known negative symptom, I do believe. So, this anhedonia could very well actually be a symptom of your illness and not related to the meds at all. 

 

Yes, antipsychotics can cause a certain dullness. But if you've been feeling like this for a year, I would wager a bet that it's your illness. 

 

I think you should give the mirtazapine a try. Like all meds, it has side effects. But, you never know, it may help you. You can only know if you try. 

 

I understand your fear about taking medications. They have a lot of scary side effects sometimes. But remember, when people post online it's either because they LOVE the med or HATE the med. Mostly HATE. So, you're more likely to hear negative experiences. There are members here who take mirtazapine with no issues. 

[Narshe81]

Yeah I have been thinking that I should at least give Mirtazapine a try. I will talk to my pdoc tomorrow about it just to be sure he wants me to be on this still.

 

I am aware that anhedonia is part of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, I am more than 100% certain that my anhedonia was caused by the injections because it all started a week or so after my first injection and has been gradually getting worse over the months with more injections. I also met another fellow of similar age who was also diagnosed with schizophrenia at the hospital. We became friends outside the hospital and he has been taking Invega Sustenna too and is also suffering from anhedonia. With anhedonia as a negative symptom of schizophrenia, I believe that even then cigarettes or alcohol would still work for you. However, after Invega Sustenna they all stopped working. It all happened at the same time as when I got anhedonia.

 

I will definitely check out the schizophrenia board. thanks

[jt07]

Just a point: mirtazapine is not an SSRI and does not have the blunting effect of SSRIs. I take it, and for me it is very helpful -- even helpful in offsetting some of the side effects from the SSRI that I also take. So I recommend that you take your doctor's advice and try mirtazapine. It's very sedating at first, but you get used to the sedation fairly quickly.

[Guest]

You really do need to talk to your pdoc about not taking the mirtazapine that you were prescribed. Your pdoc is under the impression that you have been taking it. You need to partner with your pdoc. You need to work together to figure out what is best for you. If you aren't telling your pdoc what is going on then he/she cannot help you to the best of their ability. If you have fears about taking meds then work with your pdoc. Maybe you could agree on a schedule to get to 30 mg more slowly, rather than starting out on 30 mg. It might be if you increased it slowly then you'd feel more like you're in control. I've always felt that the patient/pdoc relationship needs to be based upon mutual respect and honesty. Over the years, my pdoc and I have come to an understanding. He'll make suggestions. I'll make suggestions. At the end of the day, we both realize that unless we can come to an agreement then it won't work. Either I won't take the med or he won't prescribe it. It's much easier to come up with a plan we can both agree upon.

 

Can you tell I have a lot of opinions on this topic? Seriously, give it a try. 

[Narshe81]

Just a point: mirtazapine is not an SSRI and does not have the blunting effect of SSRIs. I take it, and for me it is very helpful -- even helpful in offsetting some of the side effects from the SSRI that I also take. So I recommend that you take your doctor's advice and try mirtazapine. It's very sedating at first, but you get used to the sedation fairly quickly.

 

Thanks, jt07~ That is interesting to know.

 

Maybe I will give it a shot tonight and take one before bed. Maybe it will help with my insomnia, who knows.

[Narshe81]

You really do need to talk to your pdoc about not taking the mirtazapine that you were prescribed. Your pdoc is under the impression that you have been taking it. You need to partner with your pdoc. You need to work together to figure out what is best for you. If you aren't telling your pdoc what is going on then he/she cannot help you to the best of their ability. If you have fears about taking meds then work with your pdoc. Maybe you could agree on a schedule to get to 30 mg more slowly, rather than starting out on 30 mg. It might be if you increased it slowly then you'd feel more like you're in control. I've always felt that the patient/pdoc relationship needs to be based upon mutual respect and honesty. Over the years, my pdoc and I have come to an understanding. He'll make suggestions. I'll make suggestions. At the end of the day, we both realize that unless we can come to an agreement then it won't work. Either I won't take the med or he won't prescribe it. It's much easier to come up with a plan we can both agree upon.

 

Can you tell I have a lot of opinions on this topic? Seriously, give it a try. 

 

 

Hey Sylvan

 

To be honest with you after reading what you guys have said sofar I have been thinking about giving mirtazapine a shot. I think you are totally 100% right that I should be honest and upfront with my pdoc. I think it was a mistake for having been taking the antidepressant and didn't tell my pdoc about it. It's only going to end up hurting me in the long run.

 

It's just that Invega Sustenna left me with such a bad impression with psychiatric drugs that I have been too scared to try anymore of them. I will try to be a bit more responsible and honest.

 

You do have a lot of opinions on this topic, but I feel that they are valid opinions. I think your inputs have been really helpful and I really appreicate it

[CookieN]

Meds have different effects on different people. In cymbalta's initial trials, a person committed suicide.  I took cymbalta for 5 years and it saved my life.

Edited December 11, 2013 by CookieN

[giggly_nut]

LMFAO Invega IS risperdal. Risperdal shot is once a fortnight while Invega sustena is once a month. Its like comparing Seroquel XR to Seroquel.

[jt07]

LMFAO Invega IS risperdal. Risperdal shot is once a fortnight while Invega sustena is once a month. Its like comparing Seroquel XR to Seroquel.

No, Invega is one active metabolite of Risperdal. A more apt comparison would be Pristiq to Effexor.

Edited December 11, 2013 by jt07

[binaryhermit]

In cymbalta's initial trials, a person committed suicide.

That doesn't mean that cymbalta caused the suicide.  It's quite possible that this person would have committed suicide anyway.  And people who are on cymbalta are from a population that is probably somewhat more likely than average to commit suicide than average.

[kateislate]

Narshe it's really hard to say when a med is causing a symptom or not. You can never know for sure, because symptoms can happen at the same time that have nothing to do with Meds. Anhedonia is a feature of both depression and negative symptoms - both of which are extremely common in psychosis and post-psychosis.

All you can do is estimate the probability - and one of the ways you do that is by seeing if the symptoms go away when you stop the med, or at least diminish as it is metabolized out of your body. The fact that your symptoms are just as bad as three months ago tends to argue that this isn't a side effect, but more likely a symptom of your illness.

Which is an argument for at least trying the mirtazapine and seeing if it helps. I wouldn't like to see you waste a year waiting for a "side effect" to go away which was never a side effect to begin with.

But I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I do hope you find the solution which works best for you.

[Velvet Elvis]

I'm tired of hearing fear mongering about Invega on this site. If you don't like getting an injection then be med-compliant and work with your doctor on finding an appropriate medication. And stop reading anti-psychiatry loony propaganda. Invega has personally helped me and in combination with other meds has kept me from being suicidal.

 

+1

[Wonderful.Cheese]

I'm tired of hearing fear mongering about Invega on this site. If you don't like getting an injection then be med-compliant and work with your doctor on finding an appropriate medication. And stop reading anti-psychiatry loony propaganda. Invega has personally helped me and in combination with other meds has kept me from being suicidal.

 

+1

Double +1

I have noticed this trend too. Invega is not a bad med for MANY people. It really helped me out and if it were not for the prolactin issues I would be back on it in a heartbeat. And many people do not even get that side effect or get it very mildly. I had a clarity of mind that I've yet to experience again when I was on invega. No weight gain.

And the anti-psychiatry sites are bull shit. Do you find any anti-insulin or anti-diabetic websites? HA you would never hear of that. I call shenanigans. Terrible, awful, mean spirited, hateful, angry people are the types of people that run those anti-psychiatry websites. It's all politics. They think they know more than a Dr. that has had specialist experience and extra education? Bull shit.

Please be careful people when you are looking up information online. Keep in mind that any John Doe could write whatever he/she thinks and it could cause a lot of damage. CHECK YOUR SOURCES CARFEULY! I cannot stress that enough.

<end rant>

[Narshe81]

I am not pro-med nor am I for anti-psych. I think both sides are equally valid and keep each other in check. Psychiatry used to be extremely invasive and destructive, i.e. lobotomy, which was then finally discontinued. It was due to the anti-psych movement that stepped up and gave people with mental illnesses rights and ability to voice their concerns. Imagine where all of us would be right now if it wasn't for the anti-psych movement. Think long and hard.

 

You cannot possibly compare neuroleptic drugs, which are well known to cause destructive physical and mental effects, to insulin. That's just ridiculous and in denial. If insulins were to cause as much griefs and debilitating side effects as neuroleptics and can also be forced upon you against your will, I am sure there would have been an anti-insulin movement.

 

When I went in for help I did not know any better. I trusted my doctors. Specialist experience and extra education? I have been a college student for well over 9 years and I can tell you right now that the saying a thousand books are not worth a trip there goes a long way here. I have even met a doctor who claimed flatout that neuroleptic drugs DO NOT cause anhedonia despite all the evidence you can find all over. Here's a link to a study where doctors were themselves given neuroleptics who failed to complete the study because the side effects were too devastated for them to have continued on:

http://invinciblesummers.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/a-doctor-voluntarily-took-an-antipsychotic-drug/

 

There will always be the extremes. The pro-meds who will bilndly do whatever the 'doctor' (i.e., a fellow human being who has never experienced what you are going through but read many books on it in college) tell them to without a question asked. Then there will also be those who are so anti-psych that they want nothing to do with the mental health system. I personally do not belong in either category for I am just a person who is trying to get well where I am now I am feeling worst than I have ever felt in my life.

 

I could also say the same thing you are saying. I could say that Invega Sustenna is a good drug for it did help with my positive symptoms, and that I would gladly go back on it in a heartbeat if it weren't for the unbearable side effects such as anhedonia or akithesia, etc. But the fact is that you and I will go not back on it already proved my point.

 

 

The bottomline is, I was neither a pro-med nor was I an anti-psych. I suffered a brief psychosis, went to the doctor for help, took everything they gave me, and now I am completely ruined. Do you think I do not have better things to do than spending all my time searching the net for information about this?

 

If you have noticed the trend from many different people about Invega, then maybe it's time for you to face the reality and accept that maybe psychiatry isn't all what you have thought it to be.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

You actually believe that insulin doesn't cause debilitating side effects?!?!?!

Talk to my brother who has type 1 diabetes since he was 7 or so.

No seriously. I will PM you his email or ask him to write something up for you.

You know nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

And you think being in college for nine years makes you a specialist like a psychiatrist or an endocrinologist or an oncologist?

And you seriously also need to check your sources. Have you not learned this by now being in college for nine years?!? Do you not know the difference between a scholarly article and some hack writing a personal blog on the internet?!!?? It seems as though you need another nine years of college....

[Narshe81]

You actually believe that insulin doesn't cause debilitating side effects?!?!?!

Talk to my brother who has type 1 diabetes since he was 7 or so.

No seriously. I will PM you his email or ask him to write something up for you.

You know nothing. Absolutely nothing.

 

I could then say that your brother is an anti-insulin and do what you do and deny any side effects that it has.

 

Let's take a quick look then, shalle we?

 

Here are the side effects of diabetes insulins:

 

 

SIDE EFFECTS: Hypoglycemia is the most common side effect that may occur during insulin therapy. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include confusion,nausea, hunger, tiredness, perspiration, headache, heart palpitations, numbness around the mouth, tingling in the fingers, tremors, muscleweakness, blurred vision, cold temperature, excessive yawning, irritability, and loss of consciousness.

Patients may experience blurred vision if they have had elevated blood sugar levels for a prolonged period of time and then have the elevated levels rapidly brought to normal. This is due to a shift of fluid within the lens of the eye. Over time, vision returns to normal. Other side effects that may occur include headaches, skin reactions (redness, swelling, itching or rashat the site of injection), worsening of diabetic retinopathy, changes in the distribution of body fat (lipodystrophy), allergic reactions, sodium retention, and general body swelling. Insulin causes weight gain and may reduce potassium blood levels.

 

 

Here are the side effects of Invega Sustenna:

Feeling Restless Severe

Parkinson Symptoms Severe

Extrapyramidal Reaction Severe

Blurred Vision Severe

Problems with Eyesight Severe

Acute Infection of the Nose, Throat or Sinus Severe

Itching Severe

Mental Impairment Severe

Dizzy Severe

Chronic Trouble Sleeping Severe

A Feeling of Restlessness with Inability to Sit Still Severe

Voluntary Movement Difficulty Severe

Rash Severe

Nervous Severe

Reaction due to an Allergy Severe

Anxious Severe

Sexual Problems Severe

Altered Interest in Having Sexual Intercourse Severe

Muscle Problems that cause Abnormal Movement Less Severe

Throat Irritation Less Severe

Inflammation of the Nose Less Severe

Increased Production of Saliva Less Severe

Dry Mouth Less Severe

Indigestion Less Severe

Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe

Drowsiness Less Severe

Inducing of a Relaxed Easy State Less Severe

Low Energy Less Severe

Weight Gain Less Severe

Change in Appetite Less Severe

Head Pain Less Severe

Cough Less Severe

Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe

Throwing Up Less Severe

Problems with Bladder Control Less Severe

Runny Nose Less Severe

Infrequent side effects of Invega Sustenna IM:

Blood Pressure Drop Upon Standing Severe

Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Severe

Discharge of Milk in Men or Women when Not Breastfeeding Severe

Seborrhea Severe

Backache Severe

Cannot Focus Thoughts Severe

Fast Heartbeat Severe

Heart Throbbing or Pounding Severe

Trouble Breathing Severe

Chest Pain Severe

High Blood Sugar Severe

Problem with Periods Less Severe

Joint Pain Less Severe

Muscle Weakness Less Severe

Muscle Pain Less Severe

Uncoordinated Less Severe

Nosebleed Less Severe

Diarrhea Less Severe

Stomach Cramps Less Severe

Feeling Weak Less Severe

Increased Levels of Prolactin in the Blood Less Severe

High Amount of Fats in the Blood Less Severe

Confused Less Severe

Rare side effects of Invega Sustenna IM:

Abnormal Movements of Face Muscles and Tongue Severe

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Severe

Yellowing of Skin or Eyes from Liver Problems Severe

Pancreatitis Severe

Blood Clot in Lung Severe

Heart Block Severe

Abnormal Heart Electrical Signals Severe

Atrial Fibrillation Severe

Prolonged Q-T Interval on EKG Severe

Transient Ischemic Attack Severe

Stroke Severe

Lack of Blood Supply to the Brain Severe

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Severe

Blocked Bowels with No Movement Severe

Continued Painful Erection Severe

Hives Severe

Serious Muscle Damage that may Lead to Kidney Failure Severe

Unwareness Severe

Feeling Faint Severe

Seizures Severe

Temporarily Stops Breathing While Sleeping Severe

Fever Severe

Involuntary Quivering Severe

Visible Water Retention Severe

Loss of Appetite Severe

Swollen Tongue Severe

Abnormal Liver Function Tests Severe

Low Body Temperature Severe

Life Threatening Allergic Reaction Severe

Giant Hives Severe

Diabetes Severe

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Severe

Decreased Blood Platelets Severe

Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell Severe

Decreased White Blood Cells Severe

Decreased Neutrophils a Type of White Blood Cell Severe

Disturbance of Attention Less Severe

Stuffy Nose Less Severe

Urinary Tract Infection Less Severe

Breast Tenderness Less Severe

Hair Loss Less Severe

Muscle Spasm Less Severe

Muscle Stiffness Less Severe

Sleep Disorder Less Severe

Taste Problems Less Severe

Numbness Less Severe

Fluid Retention in the Legs, Feet, Arms or Hands Less Severe

Difficulty Speaking Less Severe

Gas Less Severe

Cannot Empty Bladder Less Severe

Low Blood Sugar Less Severe

Problem with Ejaculation Less Severe

I will just let you chew on that for a while...

 

You have also failed to address my other points mentioned above. Telling me that I know nothing does not prove anything for your case. It's like an argument an elementary school kid would use.

Don't take it the wrong way, but I could not care less if your brother has diabetes. Insulins are taken so that a person will not fall over dead and that applies to everyone with diabetes. Any anti-insulin movement would be ridiculous in this case. Most people with mental illnesses can go on with their lives and function without meds. A schizophrenia will not fall over dead with a stroke or whatever without neuroleptic drugs.

[jt07]

 

 

You cannot possibly compare neuroleptic drugs, which are well known to cause destructive physical and mental effects, to insulin.

 

The physical side-effects of neuroleptics are well know to be EPS, possible TD, and metabolic changes. I don't think that any doctor tries to hide those facts. I personally take or have taken neuroleptics, including Invega, as an adjunct for depression. I have not experienced any lasting "destructive" mental effects. These meds help people. I realize that some people experience blunting on them. However, emotional blunting and anhedonia are often (negative) symptoms of psychosis so it becomes difficult to determine really what is causing what, especially since neuroleptics are given at the same time as negative symptoms typically show up.

 

I'm not saying what is true in your case, but I really think that you should listen to what your doctor says and not rely on anti-psychiatry sites.

[jt07]

Every single med has a long list of possible side effects. Many of these are listed for a CYA reason by the drug companies. Do you even listen to the commercials for meds on TV? I've heard a commercial for one med (not a psych med) that mentioned possible death as a side effect.

Edited December 11, 2013 by jt07

[Narshe81]

And you think being in college for nine years makes you a specialist like a psychiatrist or an endocrinologist or an oncologist?

And you seriously also need to check your sources. Have you not learned this by now being in college for nine years?!? Do you not know the difference between a scholarly article and some hack writing a personal blog on the internet?!!?? It seems as though you need another nine years of college....

 

I have never claimed to be a psychiatrist, oncologist or an endocrinologist. If you read my post more carefully, I merely stated that having been in college for nine years have taught me that no matter how much I read about a subject, it will never give me the same knowledge and experience as having been there myself. This is from a guy who loves to read. I have always been fully aware of the differences between scholarly article and some random rant on the internet. Done a bunch of them in my psychology and academic writing classes.

 

My intructors also informed me back in college that scholarly articles can still be biased depending who funds the study. We also learned about the the limitation and shortcomings of data gatherings for a study.

 

You may or may not know this, but even until now no one, not even dotors or scientists, know the exact cause of psychosis or schizophrenia. It was just hypothesized that it occurs due to excess dopamine activity with no scienctific proves yet. You will also learn that no one really understands how neuroleptics work as well aside from the dopamine antagonizing properties.

 

I would also like to add that the company who makes Invega Sustenna has recently been found guilty in court for having been deceptively promoting its antipsychotic drugs and hiding its adverse side effects. Do your own research on Janssen.

[jt07]

You may or may not know this, but even until now no one, not even dotors or scientists, know the exact cause of psychosis or schizophrenia. It was just hypothesized that it occurs due to excess dopamine activity with no scienctific proves yet. You will also learn that no one really understands how neuroleptics work as well aside from the dopamine antagonizing properties.

This is true. But they were found empirically to work, and a lot of people who otherwise would have been institutionalized have lives because of them.

Without Abilify, I have no desire to live. I might not be suicidal, but I really have no interest in life. Rispedal (made by Janssen) also helped me when I was at my lowest.

[Narshe81]

 

 

 

You cannot possibly compare neuroleptic drugs, which are well known to cause destructive physical and mental effects, to insulin.

 

The physical side-effects of neuroleptics are well know to be EPS, possible TD, and metabolic changes. I don't think that any doctor tries to hide those facts. I personally take or have taken neuroleptics, including Invega, as an adjunct for depression. I have not experienced any lasting "destructive" mental effects. These meds help people. I realize that some people experience blunting on them. However, emotional blunting and anhedonia are often (negative) symptoms of psychosis so it becomes difficult to determine really what is causing what, especially since neuroleptics are given at the same time as negative symptoms typically show up.

 

I'm not saying what is true in your case, but I really think that you should listen to what your doctor says and not rely on anti-psychiatry sites.

 

 

I understand what you are trying to say and I totally agree with you. But you can look at it the other way and say that more often than not experts tend to mistaken genuine anhedonia cases for negative symptoms. I have honestly not been relying on anti-psychiatry sites. I do general searches and looked through all of them whether they were from WebMD, pro-med forums, anti-psych forums, patients experiences, companay's website, third-party studies, research papers etc.

 

Cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances that used to give me pleasure have all stopped working a week or so after my first injection. It is hard to ignore the fact that neuroleptic drugs work by antagonizing a number of dopamine and serotonin receptors. I have talked to other schizo's who are NOT on any meds and have negative symptoms (they formed a group and are running an advocate group in my city) and they can still enjoy cigarettes and can still enjoy alcohol. I believe that is the difference between neuroleptic induced anhedonia and anhedonia as a negative symptom. I also learned that those who suffer from anhedonia as a negative symptom can occasionally get 'windows' of normalness where they can feel pleasure for a brief period from time to time. This has not been the case for me for the last year.

 

Well.. My doctor's appointment is in a few hours. I will have a long talk with him today and hear what he says.

[jt07]

Good luck with your appointment! I hope you get to the root cause of your distress.

 

Edit: I am the opposite. I suffer from severe anhedonia, and Abilify is the only med that relieves it.

Edited December 11, 2013 by jt07

[Wonderful.Cheese]

Haha ok. I can't even begin to respond to what you wrote. Your nine years of college and education (lol) has rendered me speechless.

Anyways, good luck with your appointment!

[Narshe81]

Haha ok. I can't even begin to respond to what you wrote. Your nine years of college and education (lol) has rendered me speechless.

Anyways, good luck with your appointment!

 

Heh sorry, but I really wasn't trying to be an ass. I am just going through a really tough time at the moment. This has by far been the most challenging period of my life. Though I realize that I was in the Criminology department and the only psychology classes I have taken were mostly abnormal psychology like sociopaths and psychopaths etc. They have, however, given me some foundation on the topic of mental illnesses.

 

Thanks. I'll keep you guys updated after the appointment. Gotta go now ttyl -

Edited December 11, 2013 by Narshe81

[Parapluie]

Good luck with your appointment, Narshe, and I hope you get some answers and help. 

 

I'm curious, how best can we help you in a peer support context, here on CB? We do genuinely want to help and support you. 

[Wonderful.Cheese]

Haha ok. I can't even begin to respond to what you wrote. Your nine years of college and education (lol) has rendered me speechless.

Anyways, good luck with your appointment!

 

Heh sorry, but I really wasn't trying to be an ass. I am just going through a really tough time at the moment. This has by far been the most challenging period of my life. Though I realize that I was in the Criminology department and the only psychology classes I have taken were mostly abnormal psychology like sociopaths and psychopaths etc. They have, however, given me some foundation on the topic of mental illnesses.

 

Thanks. I'll keep you guys updated after the appointment. Gotta go now ttyl -

Yes I am sorry too if I came off as rough. I'm also going through a tough time. Yuck. Sorry you are as well.

But yeah keep us updated on your appointment! I hope the dr helps you out.