Has anybody tried Invega to control mania?

[tibbir]

I was on Risperdal for like forever to get a handle on mania (dysphoric mania - the worst!). Then I got into the middle of an intensely stressful situation with my 22 year-old son and began having breakthrough mania. I've tried just about all of the other atypical antipsychotics but have had no luck with them so my doctor had me try Invega. It's made by Janssen and may have been developed since Risperdal will lose its patent next year.

Anyway, Invega has smoothed out the manic episode but my sleep seems disturbed as compared to Risperdal and I'm having an episode of acid reflux. I read that this is a possible side effect.

I'd like to hear of anybody else's experience if they've tried Invega.

[liberalhistorian]

1. I haven't used it myself, but I've

known a couple of people in my support group who have, and they say pretty much the same thing as you are saying.

Zoloft seems to work fine with me in regards to controlling my bipolar condition; I think, though, that that's largely because I tend toward the depressed side of the scale a lot of the time. I freely admit that there are times when I enjoy the "mania" aspect of it, but that's because the downside is so damned, well, depressing and much worse to deal with. I do understand the many problems mania causes, though, hell, I've had to deal with many of them. The only thing I definitely do NOT like about Zoloft is how it completely deadens me sexually (something I thought nothing could, lol!), I HATE that!!

It seems that we're damned if we do, damned if we don't, when it comes to our medicines. The ones that really help almost ALWAYS seem to have side effects that are almost as bad as the condition itself.

[Larissa238]

2. *grumble* I hate the side effects

Because of the meds, I'm probably 40 pounds heavier than I would normally be, have a weird hearing problem, and still dissociate.

BUT

At least I can sleep at night, I have a job, and I'm in a wonderful, stable relationship. I can thank the meds for that.

[Roon]

3. I like that zoloft deadens me sexually

not needing to think with my little head keeps me out of trouble and saves me a lot of hassle.