What will invega do for my social anxiety/avoidant personality disorder?

Question

What will invega do for my social anxiety/avoidant personality disorder?

Answer 1

Invega is an atypical antipsychotic typically used  for treating most schizophrenics. It also has a significant role in bipolar disorder. Invega is actually an active metabolite of the drug Risperdal. Risperdal has recently gone generic, and so you can get essentially the same drug for much less.

This also strikes me as not the best idea in the world. Personality disorders respond very poorly to medication - basically they don't improve symptoms. The only thing that consistently offers any relief is regular, serious therapy with a dedicated therapist whom you have formed a relationship with - something that's rather difficult for most people with personality disorders to do. As for the social anxiety, that will respond better to a benzodiazepine or an antidepressant - preferably not one of the ones that's stimulating like Wellbutrin. Invega/Risperdal and other antipsychotics should be far, far down the list of meds to try in dealing with these situations.

Answer 2

Invega is an antipsychotic approved to treat schizophrenia.  It is not unusual for drugs such as this to be used off label (for other purposes) for other disorders.  Usually it would be prescribed for someone who has not found relief on other medications typically prescribed for anxiety disorders.

Because it is a fairly new medication I do not know of anyone yet taking it for anxiety or depression.  I would recommend that you have your doctor give you information about why he prescribed it for you and what kind of reaction he expects to acheive.  If you are not already I would strongly suggest you also get involved in therapy to learn other ways to deal with your anxieties.