invega

[winterinafrica]

anyone have experience with Invega for treatment of Bipolar I?

I was just put on 6mgs of it. I'm also on 1000mgs of lithium twice a day.

Recently coming off Zyprexa and Depakote after a manic relapse.

My psychiatrist says Invega will "calm the rollercoaster" - does he speak the truth?

Comments

[starrynight]

I've not heard of the drug. I'm BP I and I'm on Seroquel and Lamictal. I was supposed to go on lithium but my doc gave me Lamictal instead. Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic like Invega.

[winterinafrica]

I had heard of it but only for people with schizo-spectrum disorders. Apparently a lot of docs throw it at bipolar, too.

Seroquel made me severely depressed at 300mgs and lamictal gave me a rash, so both of those are in my discard pile (and a large pile it is). I've been on other atypicals (Abilify, Zyprexa, Latuda), but they've all eventually failed. I'm hoping Invega is the great med my doc proclaims it to be.

[starrynight]

I'm only taking 25mgs of Seroquel and the 25mg of Lamictal, which is getting increase to 50mg in two weeks. I've heard about the Lamictal rash and hope that I don't get it.

I hope this drug helps, I'm sure you feel frustrated and disappointed because nothings helped long term.

[winterinafrica]

I didn't have the big scary rash, just a run of the mill one. But doc wanted to stop after that anyway, and I was with him. I was up to 125mgs and still was nothing but severely depressed. Good luck though, and remember that lamictal is a miracle drug for many people and has brought stability to countless lives.

And thanks. It's very frustrating to be well, but only barely so, for a few months on each med before the disease finds its way around them completely and I'm right back to square one. Luckily I've been able to stay afloat in school and work during those well periods, but if I don't find long term stability soon I fear I will mess it all up completely.

[krissykross]

I took Invega, but it did nothing for me and since it wasn't covered by my insurance ($900 a month!) I went off it. I've had a lot more luck with Fanapt.

[irishfairy913]

Invega has worked miracles for me, and I've been on it since 2007. My dose fluctuates between 6mgs and 9mgs (it's been pretty steady lately at 9mgs). My husband also takes it and it's worked wonders for him, too. We both have bipolar I with psychotic features. I haven't been hospitalized in over two years, and he's been episode free for over a year. (But he was completely unmedicated before the Invega.)

Of course, meds work differently for everyone, but this has just been our experience.

Best of luck.

[10acgirl]

Does it cause weight gain? I don't really have a lot of psychosis but i have severe mood swings and anger issues. Anything that will stop the "roller coaster" would be good. I go see my PDOC tomorrow so I'd like to bring this up if i can..

[irishfairy913]

It hasn't caused any for me, and I won't take something if it does. It's classified as "weight-neutral".

[10acgirl]

Interesting...I may bring this up tomorrow. Also...would you like to be LJ friends? :) I have a lot of bipolar folks on my FL..its always cool to have people who understand where i'm coming from.