Anyone Else Trying Savella For Fibromyalgia? (Page 7)
(Newest replies 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?

REPLY

REPORT

Phyllis--I'm curious to know if you take just the savella for pain meds or are you on additional ones? Do you have additional diagnoses' besides fibromyalgia? I know first hand how painful it is. If you are on additional narcotics,OTC etc can you let me know how long you've been on them and how you feel each one works.Thanks TakeCare

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Overthehill53---Yeah, i'm almost to the top of the hill myself,50 in december!! I'm with you on the savella.Way too many side effects for me2! I'm so happy to hear all the positive feedback from soooo many people that the savella has worked for them,but like all medicines,each individual has different situations--personally.I'm currently on 14 RXs per day,including pain meds,antidepressants etc & the savella just didn't mix well with my other RXs.I had the SEVERE dizziness,sweating,nausea,vomitting,lost all control of my motor skills and sooo many more side affects.I have now been off it for I think just over 1yr now & I swear I'm still 'getting off of it'.Took me about 2 months of intense occupation/physical/psych therapy to get probably 95% of my motor skills back.Does the cymbalta really work for you?How much of your pain does it take away?I'm curious cause I 'tryed' it awhile ago and it just didn't seem to help with my pain enough,that my doc just took it away.I've had chronic pain since 1995 from a botched surgery(17 minute ankle surgery!!!)& now have so many other issues that have arose from that initial injury, somedays, I just don't think it's even worth trying to get up out of bed at all! I wish you the best, but please lmk how long you've been on the cymbalta,what mg u r on & anything else you can tell me.I seriously don't want to ADD to my RXs DAILY MEALS but I am willing to re-try RXs again cause I'm just too darn old to be on strong pain meds,ya know? TakeCare BeSafe Stay in touch,k?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on savella fro a little over 3 weeks and am on 50mgs in the am and 50mgs in the pm and am just starting to feel better. I had severe nausea and the excessive sweating is still there. I was told it may not go away. I can stand the sweating to have no pain. The nausea comes some , but not too bad now. I have lost some weight,,,,this is good. My legs and joints felt almost normal today for the first time in years. I do have some trouble getting to sleep at night,,,but once I'm asleep,,I'm asleep. Hope veryone else is getting better.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Although I switched gradually from Cymbalta to Savella I'm experiencing terrible side effects including severe sweating, dizziness, nausea, etc. Don't know if it's withdrawal or the Savella but after a week I've decided to go back to Cymbalta. I've never had a reaction to any of the medications I've taken before for my fibromyalgia & pain & this is horrible.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hey, Tammy---I also take something called Protandim. You can look it up online. After being on the Savella for about a year, a friend of mine with Chronic Fatigue suggested I try taking Protandim also. Not RX. Now I have it delivered to my house every month, and my husband, who is a Dermatologist, has seen how much better I have been from taking it, he takes it too! The woman that owns the gym that I go to every day for Zumba found out about it independently from me, and she has been taking it too! It is worth a try if you can afford a month's worth. Mine costs about $45 a month now, but originally it was like $65. Also, before I got Fibro, I was doing Zumba every day and loving it so much! Then when the Fibro hit, I could hardly do it at all. I was so depressed! I just love Zumba! The Savella helped me a little, and then the Protandim made it so I could go every day again! I still have to take it easy. ONe time I tried to go to a Zumba-thon on a Friday night for two hours, and the next day I was TOAST! I could hardly get out of bed. So, it is not a cure all, just has made my life significantly better! Good luck!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I would love to hear about the natural cure. I have started taking savella. Dignosed a week ago with fibro..I can see a huge difference as it is getting into my system. I do have the upset stomach but the pain has eased so much and I can sleep almost through the night now. I needed the medicine to get rid of the pain and help with the over all fatigue. I do not feel ready to run a marathon just yet but I can improvement starting. This can be very frustrating considering I used to be a personal trainer with high impact energy. I am looking forward to hearing about the natural way, I do not like taking medicine. Just looking for a way to get a part of me back...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was just DX'd with fibro about 3 months ago, but have had this pain for years. I have never taken anything but glucosimine chondroiton an fish oil. It got so bad that I was having problems walking in the evening. I just started the 5omg in the am and pm,,,so here I go. It is the final time to go up on the med. Hope it works. Stay in touch. I enjoy talking to someone who understands what I go thru daily. I work a full time job and am a single mom,,,,so I can't stop,,,even when I really need to.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I never had diarrhea, but the nausea was pretty bad, and now that I have been on it for almost 2 years, isn't quite as bad. I do think that is one of the side effects and should go away and get better. I would wait at least 2 months before you see if it helps with the pain, and it won't be totally gone, but at least you should be able to function! I still need lots of rests...but the pain is manageable without pain meds now. Sometimes I take Naproxin, but only once or twice a week.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have only been on Savella for almost 3 weeks and have upset stomach,,,,which is a side affect that should go away. I hve excessive sweating and hot flashes,,,but I am pre-menopuasal,,,so I am sure that's part of it. My pain level is not any better yet,,,,but it is supposed to be up to 2 months before it fully works. Stay n touch.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

How long were you on Savella before you noticed a difference?Did you have diarrhea?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on it for 2 years now, and my hair hasn't changed at all, as far as shiny and it hasn't thinned or become frizzy. However, I am in the menopause stage (If I didn't take HRT, I'd probably be done) and it seems my hair only grows to my ears too...Maybe a little longer. But it coincided with the hot flashes. And that is why I take Yaz.... It got rid of hot flashes, which I don't mind a 4 day light period. I sleep well and the Lex. is what also gave me hot flashes, but only when I first started it. This combo seems to work great with fibro/menopause and the depression from chronic pain.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Savella for almost 2 years now, and I hate to tell ya, the sweating and flushing are no better now. Also, my pain has not totally gone away, and my fatigue is improved, but I still need a rest every afternoon, and a good 8 hours of sleep every night, sometimes more. However, that said---Savella is still a Godsend for me, and I sing its praises! I will not go off it because of the inconvenience and annoyance of the sweating--I just dress in layers and adjust accordingly during the day! (But i also have hot flashes, which I'm sure makes it worse.) Hang in there! My husband is a Dermatologist, and although he doesn't treat Fibromyalgia, he does see a lot of patients who have it. He has told them about Savella, and many of them have noticed HUGE relief from taking it, and they thank him all the time!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

The nausea is much better. Not seeing a differnece in the pain,,,but it can take a few weeks. Excessive flushing and sweating,,,,but I am hoping to see some improvement soon. The nausea does get better. I am takin 25mg. in the am and 25mg. in the pm now. Will move up to the next pill soon. stay in touch.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I just went on it myself...I have more energy and it has gotten rid of a lot of pain for me. I was so excited about this that I could overcome the nausea but I am hoping that goes away soon. I am still on the little blue pills and I have noticed that they wear off pretty fast in the afternoon before it is time to take the next one. When they wear off, the pain and exhaustion comes roaring back with a vengeance. I feel so thrilled to have even a few days with energy, though, I think that I could put up with most anything. How are you doing on it, now?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Savella for 2 weeks,,,so I am not sure if I should say anything. I am still in some pain,,,,I do sleep better at nigh and don't hurt as bad durin g hte day. My knees are still hurting and my elbows. I feel very melancholy and very nauseated and hope this goes away soon.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was also on Lexapro for about 6 months while also on Savella. I only took 5 mg, but it was just what I needed! However, I really wanted to lose about 10 pounds to help out my dumb cholesterol without taking cholesterol meds, and I had to go off the Lexapro to be successful. Lexapro has never made me gain weight (I have been on and off it for years) but I can't seem to lose weight while on it. (It is because I am so happy and don't care and eat the desserts and stuff. When I am off it, I have more discipline.) Congrats on finding a great combination. My Savella does give me more energy and has taken the edge off the pain, but sometimes I still feel a ton of pain--it just is never as bad as it was before SAvella. Don't take away my Savella! I will have to hurt someone! (mostly me!)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on it for two years and I didn't lose any hair, but it doesn't grow past my ears it seems. However, that occurred about the same time as the hormonal peri-menopausal stage..., but it hasn't thinned and is still shiny. The benefits far surpass my hair, I also wish I was able to grow some hair longer and I am seriously thinking I might just wear a wig for special occasions when I want to feel younger and have a little fun. All of Hollywood does it, why not us! I just am grateful to have some more energy and finally find a balance with two meds (lexapro and savella) that control the depression (the more pain the worse that is) and feel normal and energetic. Still have pain, but I have alot going on and arthritis is not fixable.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

The nausea is a huge part of Savella---it is the worst at the beginning. It does get a little better. However, as I said before, I have been on it for over 1 1/2 years, and I have to be sure I keep a little something in my stomach or i start to get nauseated. Hang in there--if that is your only symptom, you will benefit from Savella, hopefully, a lot! It will get better.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am so happy for you both. My experiences were horrible but there are so many different reactions to almost every RX I am on and post about. I'm gonna continue to look for something that helps me--You go girl!! Live life, like so many of us know, there are good and bad days, really bad days. We have to cherish the good, because we know those other kinda days are coming. Take care

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Linny, I have also had really good results on Savella. However, my hair has become really thin and frizzy---how long have you been on it? I have been on for 1 year and 9 months. I can't go off because I was practically non-functional without it. Is your hair the same? I'm just sad, because I had really great hair before, for a woman in my 50s.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

50 mg in the a.m. and 50 mg. in the p.m. (along with 30 mg cymbalta once a day) and - for the first time in 50 yrs. have...

1 REPLY

I'm a difficult case of fibromyalgia, poor treatment response since 15. I'm on a pharmacy of meds including 150m...

3 REPLIES

I was just prescribed Celebrex for fibromyalgia pain & need to know if I can still take melatonin for sleep ## Melat...

3 REPLIES

I just went from 60 mg to 80mg of cymbalta. I have fibromyalgia, neuropathy and depression and anxiety. Has anyone taken...

2 REPLIES

Has any one had success with the use of Zonisamide for pain with fibro and if so how long did it take ? Been on one week...

2 REPLIES

I have been diagnosed with polymyolitis and put on 15mg of panafcort per day. I am concerned that I may have Fibromyalgi...

Hello, I'm looking for a Dr who understands and is up to date on the most current Medical research and information c...

I have been taking gabapentin for one month for fibromyalgia... 500 mg a day...100 mg in the morning 100 mg in the after...

3 REPLIES

What are the best medications to treat fibromyalgia? I am always hurting somewhere on my body. Especially my back, knees...

10 REPLIES

I take this for fibro and back pain (had 2 back surgeries) also have lot of nerve pain. It only takes the edge off. I ca...

5 REPLIES