Anyone Else Trying Savella For Fibromyalgia? (Page 5) (Top voted first)

This is a new medication that just came out for fibromyalgia. I have several other conditions involving spinal degeneration , herniated discs, arthritus, etc.
I've been taking this medication for a little over 2 weeks now and have worked up to the full dose. My biggest symptom seems to be upset stomach but I don't know if it's from the Savella or from de-toxing from 7 other medications that I've been on for over 10+ yrs.
Is there anyone else out there that has started this medication that can give me any information that they may have on it?

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Seems as though Savella is NOT for me. It has raised my heart rate to an unacceptable level which my cardiologist is not happy about. So, it looks like I'm back to square one. Wondering though where this will lead since I just saw my GP yesterday and she says the info she got from the Rheumatologist suggests this is more in my head and caused by depression, than anything else. My GP does NOT feel this to be true. She says I am far from depressed and knows this is not in my mind. The lab results prove it. So????? Is this what the professionals resort to when they have no answers? My GP wants me to continue to see the Rheumatologist (for now) to see where this leads. In the meantime, the GP has made a few suggestions and will make the decision on my next visit (in a month) whether to start a course of steroids, depending on the course of action by the Rheumatologist.

This is all just getting to be too much. I need some answers!

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Hi Rebecca; have you considered a pain management specialist? I had been to a neurologist when I didn't know what was wrong; and she's the one that said she believed it was Fibro; also, my pain specialist would never give me steroid injections; she does do lydacaine, the method is called trigger point injections. Works wonders for me. I also got the lydacaine patches, for the in between injections when the pain is out of control. I call it the point of no return. Anyway, savella I have been on now for at least 3 months, and it is helped me. I have no depression symptoms anymore either. Oh, vitamin D. Get yours checked... but do find a specialist. Do not be afraid to change doctors.Good luck.

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ive just been prescribed savella,havent started yet,but would like to know if anyone has had any problems with hearing loss taking this drug,i lost a lot from taking neurontin cant afford to lose more,thank you for any feedback

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I've just begun taking Savella and am titrating up on my dose. Not to be critical, but as I'm reading through the posts, I see that in November Teresa said something about not dwelling on your pain. ARE YOU KIDDING?!!!? As a person with FM and now possibly RA, I'd like to know the secret of not dwelling on the pain! So far, so good with the Savella. It is causing some nausea and I'd like some hints as to how others have dealt with that side effect.

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I've been taking Savella for about 5 months now (50 mg per day). Here's the good stuff: Lost over 40 pounds because I'm not as hungry. Quit drinking soda's and eating junk food. I think that the medicine has helped me with the cravings for unhealthy food. I used to use the sugary food to keep me going when my energy felt like it was bottoming out. Now, I just try to eat less junk and truly nurture myself more. The medicine helped me stay on a diet and I started lifting weights 3x's per week.

So, here comes the bad stuff: Savella doesn't really help with my fibromyalgia pain so much. It does make me more aggressive and angrier. I've had to work out and start counseling to help control the anger. Strangely, the anger has pushed me into becoming healthier but I don't like who I am at times. I'm not sad or in pain all of the time, but I do have to keep a very close watch on the aggressiveness. As for the fibro pain, I do yoga in the sauna 2-3 times per week, take hot baths and take 2 tylenol PM's so I can get good, uninterrupted sleep. I drink lots of water too. I also find that I am very thirsty during the day. This has made me cut down on the coffee and increase my water intake as well.

My point to all of this is, that there is no magic pill that is going to cure the fibromyalgia. However, it has helped me to get into better shape than I've been in for the past 9 years.

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I have been recently diagnosed with fibro & been suffering with it for about 2 or 3 years now. Went to specialists, had all kinds of tests. Finally at my physical last week, the report from the Rhumetologist was read & I was diagnosed with fibro, Anyway I started Savella on 12/20/09. So far I haven't noticed any difference. I really hope this works for me & everyone else who is suffering with this disorder. I have noticed that it had gotten worse after I quit smoking & gained alot of weight. We shall see what happens.

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Has anyone else out there been incorrectly given Cymbalta and Cipro simultaneously? I was and have been very ill for 5 wks. Would appreciate correspondence.

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Hello everyone I'm new ti this . I have had fibro for about 7years and it is real bad . I also have spinal stenoisis, real fun . I have tried LYRICA AND NO SUCCESS. It hurt me real bad, So now my doctor wants me to try savilla not sure I want to . My husband wants me too but he doesnt have the reaction to meds I do.I have been reading you alls postings and havent seen anything new lately. I seen where one person had a real bad reaction to it so that scares me. can anyone talk to me please . Also what are trigger point injections?

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Cindy: Lyrica caused lots of weight gain for me although high doses did work to stop reflex sympathetic dystrophy in my feet and legs caused from a blow to my foot and I was incredibly grateful for that. Lyrica also works for me at a low dose to keep FM flares from happening as frequently.

If you are not taking antidepressants, then you can try Savella. I'm told it takes about six weeks to work as well as it should. I'm currently in my 3rd week and it does seem to be helping some. I have more energy than before. I had a bit of nausea at first with the Savella but that has subsided. The other side effect I'm having from Savella is sweating although not as badly as I had with Cymbalta. I don't know how much your MD has explained about Savella. You typically begin at a lower dose and titrate up to a higher maintenance dose and that is what I'm in the process of doing, currently taking 50mg twice a day.

If my understanding is correct, trigger point injections are usually given to numb, at least temporarily, most painful areas such as in your neck, low back, etc. I'm also currently having trigger point injections in my neck. I'm told it generally takes a series of two or three times to help. I had one set of injections (4 or 5 shots altogether in a small area of my neck) and that has helped on that side. My pain doc has now performed another set of injections on the other side of my neck. That has been less successful but I will try again in the hope of obtaining relief from headaches and neck pain. Please look elsewhere (other than this site that is) for additional information about other folks' experiences with Savella. It is just the thing for some, not so much for others, but that's pretty much the way it goes with all medications for anyone with FM, I think. We are often just more sensitive to meds than people who are lucky enough not to have FM. I do hope this response isn't too long. My thoughts will be with you.

Teresa: My thoughts and prayers are with you. Don't be bitter about your many and varied complaints. (I've read through some of your posts, Dear.) Someone might accuse you of dwelling on yourself a bit overmuch and suggest you get off your own pity throne. Your message to me was quite eloquent and much appreciated. Now when I think of my various military friends with their many and varied illnesses -- and they certainly do have them -- I'll remind myself to climb off my pity pot as you so elegantly and eloquently suggested. I'll also remind myself that I could be so unlucky as my good friend who was suddenly diagnosed not with the gallstone she thought and had been told was likely but with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. We could all be worse, now couldn't we? My prayers are most definitely with you! :)

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I just started with Savella 2 days
ago 12.5 mg Wed and 12.5 at 8 am this morn and I feel terrible. I feel very out of it. Almost a slurred speech, sweating, dry mouth almost on the verge of a panic attack and the watering of mouth like nausea. Called pharmacists to see how long will get out of my system...90 hrs. I am going back to Tramadol which works fine for me. Doesn't take the pain away but allows me to deal with the pain. I think I have a mild case compared to what I read, but my back and shoulders are always really sore like the day after shoveling snow and I have to move very gingerly. Good luck everyone!

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It is now 2:21 pm 6 1/2 hours after taking 12.5 mg of Savella this morn. I thought I'd post that my horrible symptoms are gone now and I feel much better. Like before taking it, not the pain free it's supposed to give you, just the relief of the side effects it gave me.

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Thanks to everyone who commented on my questions. I think from what I have read that I will just try to manage the pain on my own. I really dont like side effects or mind altering drugs. I will just keep praying that the good lord will help me deal with it. I have good days and bad ones ,but I guess that will be part of my life and except it for what it is. The biggest problem I have now is my back and hip hurts to walk and my legs feel like weights . Oh well just have to take it easy on those days. Hope you all have a good new year . God bless all of you.

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Happy New Year everyone! Just like Lori asked, has anyone tried a pain management specialist...called a Rehabilitative Dr. If yours is as thorough as mine you will get every test under the sun related to pain. Heck, you may even need a lift in your shoe like me if you have hip pain on one side. After 5 yrs of not being able to sleep on that side, I now can. She thought maybe scoliosis, sure enough xrays showed yes. She does bloodwork and goes through it w/ a fine tooth comb...she ordered ANA test, I'm positive, but don't know why yet. I'm low vit D. Says always take vit made in US. She is the one who prescribed Tramadol for me, but she did not jump in, it took a few months. My general Dr prescribed Savella as I went to him just as a follow up to all the people I went to Rhumatologist, PT, Rehabil Dr. Since fibros prognosois is life of pain try to go to pain specialist. I know this is just about Savella...sorry for going off track...if nothing is working I would try anything even if some people complain of side effects. Try it when you have a day or 2 of nothing to do in case you do have side eff. It may not affect you and you'll feel wonderful. I'd even go for brain surgery if it helped. Good luck, God bless and hope everyone has a happy healthy 2010.

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Regarding low back/hip pain:Pain specialist sent me to P.T., and upon the initial exam by the therapist, he noted that my tail bone was out of place. I always had low back/hip pain. Anyway, my PT was supposed to be long enough to teach me how to use the aquatherapy because of how beneficial it is to fibromayalgia, and after I was DC'd off of PT I can use the pool for $3 per visit. But when he noticed that my tailbone was out of place, he also got Dr.'s order to treat that, and then taught me how to fix it myself, gave me excercises to do to strengthen the back, and now I am so much better! It is terrible to have fibro pain and then excruciating low back/hip pain on top of it. Also, I am certain that the savella is helping me, not just with managing the pain, but my mood seems so much better. The worst thing for me is how the fibromyalgia jumps around. Vitamin D deficiency - I have a prescription for it - like 50,000 I.U's once a week for a month, then follow up blood work, now 50,000 I.U.'s once per month. The amount needed is way more than they used to think. That helps alot of the symptoms are similar. I seen the endocrinologist for that vitamin D. If you are wanting to use natural remedies, good luck. The one trick I do know that may be helpful to anyone, a fabulous way to get all the minerals you need is to ingest daily 2 TBSP of apple cider vinegar WITH the mother (health food store carries that,I use Braggs) and 2 TBSP honey. The darker the honey, the higher the mineral content. Mix together in 6-8 oz. hot water, drink like tea. It really is awesome. We are all deficient. That is a whole nother book!!

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Lori, what is apple cider vinegar WITH the mother? Assuming Whole Foods has. I was also told that vit D req is higher as well and I have to go to a dif place for bloodwork as their baseline is dif than say Quest. Glad that Savella works for you, it was real weird for me. I have the same results with Tramadol as I feel it puts me in a happy mood. It doesn't have the build up like Savella. Takes 2 hrs to work and wears off w/in 4-6 hrs then just take another...I'm glad it's not habit forming...Oh and re back pain my pain spec recommended a dif gyn as sometimes back pain can be due to gyn issues...she was VERY thorough, but now that I have stepped away from Drs and PT I feel better as it's less stressful. I am not an indulgent person, but I am going to make a massage appt today. I'm greatful to have the financial means. I now tell myself I deserve it, but it's really for my family so I can do more...and I'm going to buy a lighter vaccuum, lol. Just trying to see the lighter side of this.

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I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia today and after what i though would relieve my anxiety has only enhanced it. I have been going to doctors for years in pain and no one knew why and a rheumatologist diagnosed me today. I am more confused than ever and relieved that someone finally believes me. He is giving me Sivella and i am concerned that it will affect my mood. I am a very happy person and do not suffer from depression (and i know because i have been there before), so has anyone not been on anything at all and started this medication? And if so, how did it affect your mood? I do not want to be different...I just want the pain to stop.

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Hi, I took the 2 week trial of Savella for my fibromyalgia and then started on a regular prescription. I felt fine but had severe hot flashes, sweating. I also have elevated high blood pressure. The bp readings started to go very high so I cut down the dose to 25 mg a day and sometimes would skip a day in between . Well it got worse, I ended up in the ER on New Year's Eve, had uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe headaches. So, I went off the medication on Jan. 1st and today is the 7th and my bp readings are still high. My fibro pain is not bad since I am having this literal hot head. I'm up to 4 atenolol a day and I don't see any relief. (Atenolol is a beta blocker and decreases the heart rate). So, I'm not going back on it at all.

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Elaine, are you sure the proper cause of your high blood pressure is savella? I have had zero affects on my blood pressure. Even the day before yesterday (tuesday), after I have been on savella for at least 3-4 months I had a cardiolite stress test. After my heart rate was up to 150, my blood pressure responded completely normal, as per the cardiologist's report. I knew a lady that had a severe jump in her blood pressure, with no idea what the cause was; doctors couldn't figure it out... turns out she was using the Head On product for her headache. That did it to her. I would certainly investigate more thoroughly, assuming that you haven't based on a limited amount of info. in your post. I guess I wasn't aware that that was a possible side effect, and would ask the pharmacist, as they are more knowledgeable on medications and contraindications (sp?). Good luck.

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I had hypertension before beginning Savella and am on two bp meds. In spite of those two bp meds, my blood pressure also increased. My heart rate increased dramatically. My worst side effect, at least as far as the way I feel, has been severe hot flushing and sweating. The increased heart rate is a problem at work since I work on the third floor of an office (no elevator) and must go up and down the steps numerous times per day (which is a good thing -- some exercise is better than no exercise, right?). As of today, I am stopping Savella, with the approval of my doctor, because of the severe sweating. Today I can feel a bit more pain taken 25mg (rather than 100mg) of the Savella yesterday, and none today. My rheumatologist is suggesting Methotrexate for my newly diagnosed RA. I'm scared to death of that med but my primary doc says it is better to start that med sooner rather than later to slow or halt the progression of the RA. As far as the fibro goes, I also stopped Cymbalta, after taking it for approximately years, also because of severe sweating. My best wishes to everyone. Elaine, I feel your pain with the severe hot flushing and sweating and elevated bp/heart rate. Good luck getting that straightened out quickly!

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I also had severe hot flashes with Savella. However, it helped with the pain so I rode it out. I had my own private summer for awhile. But now, the hot flashes and sweating are gone and I continue taking the Savella at 150 mg daily.

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