Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 2)

• sim...
• February 19, 2010

"I have been taking Savella for three weeks. My fibromyalgia pain and related symptoms were stealing my quality of life. I suffered for nine years with muscle exhaustion from my knees down, horrible muscle cramps in my legs, irritable bowel syndrome, and high blood pressure brought on by the never-ending pain and exhaustion. Savella has changed everything. I still have bad knees, but I can tell such a difference between the bone pain and the fibromyalgia pain. I don't have any of the symptoms anymore. I can walk around in big stores without having to stop and sit down. I can eat foods that would have sent me running for a restroom. I am feeling like I did when I was twenty years younger. I would recommend this drug."

• Pai...
• July 17, 2016

"Took Savella 50 mg twice a day for one year. Helped dramatically with the fibro pain (I've had fibro for 6 years). I'm a 57-year-old medical professional who, of course, tried to deny that I even had this malady. Sometime approximately 3 months after starting Savella, I noticed increasing fatigue and forgetfulness, which I attributed to age and stress. In the last 4 months, I could barely stay awake without a daily nap, I couldn't remember how to run my coffee pot that I've had for 4 years, and couldn't remember how to get from point A to B while driving. Due to concerns about age, I underwent a neuropsych eval and brain MRI, both of which were normal. I weaned off Savella, and my energy level and alertness have dramatically improved, but unfortunately, the fibro pain is back. :("

• 100...
• October 10, 2016

"I have been taking Savella for 2 years now. It really helps relieve my fibro pain. I was extremely reluctant at first because of the price. My doctor insisted I take it and I thought it wasn't helping at all, but I continued to take it anyway because I was desperate for relief. There was a week I forgot to put it in my weekly pill boxes. My body was in SO MUCH PAIN!! When I discovered that I had forgotten it, only then did I realize how much it helped. I am thin, it doesn't cause me weight gain. I am now back to working full time and am productive again. Stay strong and keep pushing, fellow fibro sufferers. ❤❤"

• Vic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 7, 2013

"I'd been treated for fibromyalgia for close to a decade before being prescribed Savella. I wanted to try Lyrica but my doctor said it wasn't a good option for me, not wanting to risk my liver & other side effects of swelling. Savella worked very well for muscle pain. I actually went from Cymbalta to Savella with less side effects. However, after 2 years I could no longer stand the side effect of severe sweating."

• lil...
• November 1, 2015

"Today is my 4th day on the 4-week titration. I'm starting the 25mg today. The first 2 days I felt a burning in the back of my throat. By the third day, it was considerably less. On the second day (12.5mg) I already began to feel the benefits of the medication. The pain had subsided and my energy was back! The extreme burning sensation in my upper back was gone. I'm hopeful that this medication will help me return to work. I still have the pain in my hands. The only con is the excessive sweating, primarily in the evening. I'm hoping this will subside. On day two, my head was drenched but I had energy and my pain level went from an 8 to a 4. I will continue to update my progress."

• Ima...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2016

"3 months on Savella, experienced no relief for fibromyalgia. Doctor increased dosage to double. Even though I was experiencing severe constipation to the point of rectal bleeding, insomnia, and intense pain. 2 months later, I experienced a severe seizure, stopped breathing, with my heart beating resulting in a stroke."

• pol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2013

"I started taking Savella in Jan 2013 after years of other meds for my fibromyalgia. I've had it diagnosed since 1997. The worst side effect is the huge sweats. It was like going through the menopause again. Whew... and I've lost weight, which is a good thing. This sweating may be going away, since I only had three sweat attacks this week. Great med for calming down the fibromyalgia symptoms."

• Thi...
• February 7, 2016

"I've almost reached the end of my titration pack and I'm going to continue using this medication. So far, I haven't had a huge improvement in pain but it does seem to help a small amount. I'm hoping this improves. My mood has become so much better. I have the desire to want to go out and do things again. I'm happier. That itself has made a big difference in my life. I feel more like myself again after years and years of clinical depression. At the beginning, it did make me feel very nauseous. This only happened for a few days. It's worth going through!"

• Boo...
• May 30, 2016

"I have been through med after med with either they don't work, stop working, or the side effects are too much for me to handle. Now I am on Savella, at the 25mg twice a day in the titrate pack, and I have to say it is a Godsend so far. Yes, the nausea is a bit harsh, but Doc says that will pass if I can just give it a chance. The energy and uplifting mood I have seen so far, even at not full dose, is amazing. I have not felt this way in years and it feels darn good. Yes, the pain is still there, but a bit better. Hope the med holds out and stays working, will update."

• Fib...
• August 8, 2019

"I was diagnosed with fibro 10 years ago. The rheumatologist started me on Flexeril, Tramadol, and Ambien. I never had an increase in meds and felt good. Then insurance changed and sent me to pain management. They were awful - so I got fed up and fired them - walked away. Here I am 2 years later, tons of pain and back to my rheumatologist I went. I am allergic to Cymbalta and Lyrica. Can’t take NSAIDs, so he prescribed Gabapentin and Savella and Flexeril. I am NEVER going to take GABA, I have always said. Nevertheless, starting that and Savella at the same time! I’m on day 4 of Savella and I’m always dizzy, nauseous (with or without food) - heart rate escalates, a clump of hair fell out today, and my vision is blurry, and my restless legs are WORSE. My nights have been excruciating, and I will NOT be taking it anymore. Has not helped me or given any relief (just grief) - for those of you who it helped, I’m happy you found something, but it’s NOT for this gal."

• MDC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2012

"Savella has been life-changing for me. When I initially started the titration pack, I had no issues. When moving to the 50mg twice a day, the first couple of days were rough. So, I moved to taking 25mg in the morning and 50mg at night. I have only had a couple of very tolerable side effects since (flushing and sweating more than normal). These side effects are more than worth it. I have my life back for the first time in more than 4 years. One thing that is really important is taking it with food and around the same time each day. The difference in my life has brought me to tears (of joy). I would recommend this to others. Don't give up if at first it didn't work for you. Try again and stick with it."

• Anonymous
• July 6, 2010

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 12 years ago. Since then, it has robbed me of much of my life. It took my social life away. I could no longer work. Basically, I just learned to manage the pain every day. I tried Lyrica but couldn't tolerate the nightmares. Then I tried Savella. The first days were great at low doses. Then, with increased dosage, the side effects were nausea and vomiting, but I transitioned back to a lower dosage (total of 25 mg daily) and that helped. I am exercising again and feel that I am getting my life back thanks to Savella. Try to get through the adjustment phase of the medication, and it could make a huge difference in your life."

• Nan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 6, 2013

"I have been taking Savella for 2 years now. I was given this medication for my migraines, and it has worked on both my migraines and fibromyalgia. I don't like paying so much for it, but it is worth it."

• Del...
• March 6, 2013

"After two months on Savella, I feel like I have gotten my life back! Like others, it hasn't really helped with the neck pain, but all of my other pains have virtually disappeared. I did start even slower than recommended, taking a full month to reach the recommended dose of 50mg 2 X a day. Side effects include brief nausea 30 minutes after I take a dose, but I try to always take it with food, and this helps. The sweating is bad, but not unbearable. Will see how it goes in the summer."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2009

"I had been taking CYMBALTA and Gabapentin for the last 6 years. They had relieved my pain greatly, but I was tired and had brain fog constantly. My new doctor recommended me to try Savella. The worst part is that I had to get off the Cymbalta before starting Savella. The withdrawals were terrible. I felt like I was trying to get off heroin. After reading these comments, I am wondering how many of these side effects people are having are from coming off of a previous drug and not Savella alone. Before I could start the Savella, I was having dizziness, nausea, electric shocks throughout my whole body, sweats, chills, etc. I am on day 7 of Savella and still having some withdrawal, but it is getting better. I say give Savella a chance to work before giving up. I am."

• Emi...
• January 27, 2013

"I have been on Cymbalta for one year, since my GP thought I probably have fibromyalgia. It helped with exhaustion and depression but not so much with pain. I saw a rheumatologist last week, and she confirmed the diagnosis and started me on Savella as well. I have only taken 12.5mg for 4 days, and my pain is already greatly reduced. No side effects yet, maybe a little bit of a 'manic' feeling like I had too much caffeine."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2018

"Lyrica made me drowsy and puffy. Cymbalta made me feel weird and killed my sex drive. Savella has been a blessing for me! I have more energy, less pain, and feel like a lot of my brain fog has cleared up. I have Ehlers Danlos and possibly fibromyalgia, which I use this for. I can feel pain when I hyperextend, but the reticular nerve pain is almost gone. Maybe 2-3 days out of the month I have an odd day, but not nearly as many as I used to, plus the SNRI seems to keep me cheerful. Have to take with food or I get nausea. Had BP spike, high pulse, and sweats first month, but they went away after. I pray this med continues to work! Get prescription drug card from website! Much cheaper, even with insurance."

• kri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2013

"I like Savella better than Lyrica. It works well for me, even though I'm in a physical job. I still hurt, but it's better than nothing and there aren't really any side effects. When I first started it, I did tend to get hot really fast, but that has gone away."

• Lor...
• August 27, 2013

"I have been taking Savella for about 4 weeks, 2 weeks at 50mg morning and night and have been having lots of side effects, almost flu-like symptoms. Weakness, shakes, lightheadedness, cold, then hot. I have been reading lots of reviews because I didn't think it could be this medicine, but I guess it can be. I work graveyards and I think I might try 50 mg in the morning and 25 mg at night and go from there. I was on Lyrica for 9 years and it was so expensive, and the Savella is half the copay Lyrica was. I'm not ready to give up on it yet, but I am so hot all the time, but the weight gain from Lyrica was the reason I decided to try Savella since my insurance will cover it now. I'm hoping for the best. Good luck."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2013

"I started Savella 2 months ago for fibromyalgia. I also have DDD, a C-spine fusion from 2-6, chronic spondylosis, sciatica, and migraines. I used 2 titration packages, using the same dosage for day one out of each package before moving to the next day, etc. That way it prolonged the rising of levels. I had been on Neurontin for many years, and even though it helped tremendously for a long while, I started having pins and needles feelings in my legs, abdomen, etc. that an increase in dose didn't help. I still have nausea and a tired feeling, but believe some of it might be due to decreasing Gabapentin as I went up on Savella. Having said all of this, I am not having nearly as much pain as before!"

• Luc...
• September 9, 2015

"Savella has changed my life. I can't believe that I do not have any more pain after 15 years. My legs and arms would ache so badly. I would cry day after day. The only thing I hate is the out-of-pocket money I have to pay because of insurance not wanting to pay. They wanted me to try the other drugs first. It was not on their list, I guess, UnitedHealthcare. They approved it, but I still have to pay a lot."

• JEE...
• December 3, 2009

"I have been on Savella for about a month, and I must say there is an improvement in my pain level. The only side effect at first was nausea, and then that went away after the first couple of weeks because the body needed to get used to it. But after you are over that hump, the only side effects for me were hot flashes and sweats. However, to be out of pain is all that I care about. I was out of work for a year and a half, and now I'm able to function and work again. I thank God for Savella and my doctor who suggested it. She has never steered me wrong. To anyone who has Fibromyalgia, please try this medicine and give it a little while to work. Stick out the side effects the first couple of weeks, and the payoff is wonderful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2018

"I have taken Savella for 6 months. I have some brain fog, but it has decreased from what I originally had. I was suffering from severe muscle pain, and it completely stopped. Another side effect I (did not suffer but loved) was the 20 lbs I have lost over the period. The cost is so much that I cut the dosage from 50 mg, 2 x a day to 25 mg, once a day but still get the pain relief just as much. My thanks to the mfg co!"

• 5ba...
• June 29, 2014

"I have been on Savella for more than ten years. I take 100 mg twice a day. When I first started, it did help me. Now, I've been having a terrible time sleeping, dry mouth, constipation, and all of the 'other' side effects listed. I never would have believed that this was why I was having so many negative side effects... especially since this is not the only medication I take. At first it was just the sweating... now all the side effects are bothersome. I am definitely going to talk to my Rheumatologist about titrating off... also having a sleep study to see if this is indeed the problem. The Sleep Study Doctor has said that this medication, after being on it for so long, will interfere with sleep and cause other problems."

• jai...
• January 20, 2015

"I really wanted this to work. I had an allergic reaction to Cymbalta, but it was helping with fibro, so I tried Savella. I have been doing the titration pack. I never got higher than 50 mg in 3 weeks, but my neck has been stiff, I have had headaches, stomach pain, bloating, an increase in anxiety, and an achy feeling like the flu. So, I plan to stop it and see if things improve. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 20 years ago and haven't felt this bad in a long time. I'm so disappointed."