Milnacipran and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I started taking Savella approximately 4 weeks ago. I take it in the morning with food and in the evening after dinner. I have had no nausea, though I do have hot flashes, increased sweating, some panic symptoms, and today had a real strange feeling of my arms and upper body feeling 'tingly' inside. That made me panic, still not sure what that was. I have also experienced constipation (mild), being very tired (before taking I was exhausted, so I was told maybe tired is an improvement over exhausted), and losing weight (though will NOT complain about that side effect). I have lost 6 lbs. in the last 3 weeks. It has helped my pain, and I no longer wake up during the night with the muscle achiness in my outer thigh area."

• JEE...
• December 3, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• Sru...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 2, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "Started taking this drug 8 years ago. The hot flashes and sweats were really bad at the beginning. Was told by my rheumatologist that I should push through. The good outweighed the bad for many years - it helped with my fibromyalgia pain, anxiety, ADHD, and OCD. But now I have had headaches more often, but I recently noticed my blood pressure creeping up every time I go to the doctor. I’m vegan and am pretty healthy, so this is odd to me. Dr. says it’s not the Savella, but I think it is. GP wants to start me on BP meds - ugh. Should I stop the Savella or just keep taking it and add the BP meds?"

• blu...
• November 11, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "I have taken Savella for just under 2 years, and it has helped my pain and anxiety levels much better than expected. It has caused some weight gain, hot flashes, and swelling, but it is far better than the alternative."

• ndb...
• August 14, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "Have been on this drug for the full four weeks now. I've noticed an improvement in my energy and mood. The muscle pains have all but gone too. I did have sweating/hot flashes with it, but those are better now. Luckily, my insurance covers it, but it's still $60/month. I also noticed the increased heart rate, so I quit drinking caffeine during the day and keep my beer/wine consumption down a lot. Increase your intake of water as that helps with the head-pounding feeling. I also take Ambien so my sleep has not suffered. Consider taking something to help you sleep, at least until you get used to the medication."

• gou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I was given a 4-week titration pack to try Savella for my fibromyalgia. I started noticing night sweats and hot flashes. Then on day 19, I was working at a show and had flushing, increased BP, pulse, and sweats so bad that my clothing was wet. I felt like my heart was going to explode. I must have some 'lost moments' where I didn't know what I was doing. It was pretty scary, so I stopped taking them and told my doctor on my follow-up visit."

• Mot...
• August 21, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "After taking Savella for two months, I began to notice a slight lessening of deep muscle pain and tenderness of joints. It has not, however, done away with the intense fatigue I am sometimes subjected to. Initially, I did experience my heart racing and feeling jittery, but after a few weeks, this went away. I do sometimes experience hot flashes, but I can live with that. Overall, my doctor and I are quite pleased with the results. I don't know if this is as good as it gets or if the results will continue to improve as I continue the medication. While I am not completely pain-free, I am very happy with Savella. I find it a blessing indeed."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "The 'hot flashes' were really unbearable. I was changing entire sets of clothes at least once a day. I finally stopped using Savella. I'm not sure if it helped my pain, but watch out for this side effect, documented in the Savella medication handout. Good luck to all others who are using it; I really hope you do not experience this side effect."

• bet...
• August 9, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on Savella for a little over 2 months now after 3 years on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia. My doctor kept me on my full dose of Cymbalta until I have finished the 2-week pack and another week on 50 mg 2 times per day, then she suggested I do 1 Cymbalta pill every other day for 10 days, then stop. I just stopped cold turkey to be done with it, no point in dragging out the side effects of coming off the Cymbalta any longer than necessary. I love Savella, for the first time in my 31 years of life, I feel normal. Suffered from hot flashes and some headaches, and I'm having some trouble dealing with experiencing emotions again after being neutral for years, but everything is working out great. Savella honestly gave me my life back."

• Pai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "At first, it helped with pain and fatigue, but after two years, bad side effects. Hot flashes, not hormonal, pain, fatigue, etc. Trying to stop taking it but having lots of leg cramps while titrating off. Good luck, all!"

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I started on Savella in July. Have been on it for 4 months. I have had such bad hot flashes 24 hours a day. Does not decrease. Headaches, severe constipation, which I have never had in my life. Dizziness, memory loss, irritability, the worst is severe high blood pressure. When I realized it was from the Savella, I went off of it. My blood pressure is coming down. The pain is tolerable. Do not take this medication if you do not have to. It was weird how I found out the high blood pressure. I went to 3 different doctors for different things. They all asked me if I had high blood pressure. I didn't. So I drove to my PCP. He immediately put me on medication, it was so high. Within stroke zone. Please check your blood pressure."

• Jil...
• July 11, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "Savella was a miracle drug for me. I had tons of energy and no pain. I was able to start going to the gym and walking 5 km in a month. After going up to 50 mg 2x a day, I started to get random little patches of hives, hot flashes, and a flushed face. I stayed on it for 2 months hoping the symptoms would go away as the benefits outweighed the side effects, however, rashes got worse, so I had to go off of it."

• Anonymous
• June 26, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I had been on Lyrica and Zoloft. My doctor had me wean off them and then started me on Savella. My muscle pain is much improved, and I have only been on it for 2 weeks. The 'brain fog' I was experiencing with the other medications is going away. The most irritating side effect I have is hot flashes, which could also be caused by weaning off Lyrica and Zoloft. I hope those go away soon."

• zer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 21, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "I was prescribed Savella for chronic pain in 2009. I took it until 2020. It did not help pain at all. I experienced severe hot flashes, my pain was worse taking it. Once I stopped taking Savella, I felt immediate relief. I would not recommend Savella to my worst enemy. I think it aged my body and skin. I lost out on 10 years of life because I couldn't attend events with family or work. I'm now a 53-year-old female. Savella, to me, was the biggest mistake of my life. I didn't taper off, I stopped cold turkey with no issues. Run, do not walk from this horrible drug."

• djd...
• December 8, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I've started Savella a couple of months ago. I was previously taking Lyrica and was having weight gain even though I eat really healthy. I also could not lose weight while taking the Lyrica. Since taking the Savella, I have lost 8 lbs since October, and I'm not eating any differently than before. The Savella does not make me tired and sleepy like the Lyrica did, so I'm enjoying more energy (a definite plus for those of us with fibromyalgia). I have also discontinued Lyrica, Ultram, Cymbalta, Mirapex, and Topamax. I feel that the Savella must be controlling my restless leg syndrome and also helping to control migraines... of course, I will keep an eye on these. My only complaint is the hot flashes, and I seem to be always hot."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on the Savella now for about 2 weeks, and minus the chills some and hot flashes, I think it's actually working for the fatigue and fogginess. After recently going through radiation treatments for breast cancer, between the radiation and fibromyalgia, my energy was so low I didn't think I would ever get out of bed again. But, like I said, right now I'm thinking it's working miracles because I have more energy than I've had in years and pray it keeps working."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I have had hot flashes and sweating while on this medicine, which after a couple of weeks have subsided. I am only halfway through my first pack but have had a lot of emotional depression/anxiety since I started it. I was taken off of Cymbalta and given Savella. So far, I haven't had any more energy, but I am going to give it 2 more weeks, which will be a month."

• Mar...
• July 29, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "Newly diagnosed after 7 years of excruciating pain, no energy, and brain fog. So after my 2nd day taking this, I have high hopes. I am a little less stiff in the morning and the rest of the day. Not pain-free... yet. I have terrible hot flashes, but my fan and I can deal with that. I am very emotional in a good way. I feel happier than I have in a long time, and while someone complained of decreased libido, I have had the opposite occur. My husband of 15 years is very pleased with this medication's side effects! At this point, I would probably just stay with it for how great it makes me feel emotionally. If it also helps the pain, energy, and mental fog in the long run, then this would be a miracle for me and mine!"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "First, let me rate it a 1. I was supposed to take 25 mg at bedtime. Woke up a little before 2 a.m., heart racing, hot flashes, extreme nausea. Spent the next hour trying to sleep, but heart palpitations, hot flashes, then chills, vomiting, and needing the bathroom... 4 times! I have NEVER had this type of drug reaction like that!!! Unreal! Charging my insurance nearly $1,000 for a rubbish drug that makes people sick. Even people who don't have severe reactions all have nausea! It shouldn't be legal to charge people so much for a drug. It is price gouging and insane! I still feel sick the next day. Never again. Now I am stuck with pills worth more money than I can make and hate them."

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "Severe side effects rendered me unable to take ANY of the usually prescribed drugs for fibromyalgia. My doctor suggested I try Savella as a last-ditch effort to find some relief. She was very upfront about easing myself through the titration, suggesting I cut pills in half and take my time getting my dosage up. After reading user postings from several sites, I was dreading starting it. Guess what? After the second day of half doses, I went to full doses and am now finished with the titration pack. While not a 'miracle,' this medication has given me significant improvement with pain and lack of energy. A little dizziness and mild hot flash 30 mins after dosing. My point is that not everyone has such difficulty with it. Don't be afraid to try it."

• jen...
• December 31, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I am 27 years old and have had fibromyalgia for 5 years. I've been to many doctors and always left feeling crazy or like they didn't believe me, 'I was too young to feel that way.' I've tried numerous drugs related to fibro, and nothing has helped. I felt as if I was getting worse and got almost every side effect of each drug I tried. I was giving up. I switched to a new doctor last year, and she is amazing. She hasn't given up on me. She told me about Savella and asked if I'd be her guinea pig. This drug has changed my life! I can get through the day normally now. At first, I had some hot flashes and nausea, but they subsided after a few weeks. I still have a little pain, but nothing like it was. I am so thankful for my doctor and Savella."

• Nur...
• September 7, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I was a patient in the research study for Savella from 1995 to October 2009. Within 3 days of receiving the 'unknown' medication, I began to feel like a normal person again. I had more energy, slept better, and my pain level went from almost the most possible to no pain on their pain scale. Up to about July 2009, the only side effects I experienced were occasional palpitations. Then I started having frequent palpitations, hot flashes, twitchy muscles, increased sweating, infrequent nausea, and vomiting. I continued to decrease my dosage and had to finally stop it entirely. Now I'm back to my old fibromyalgia pain again, but have been able to control it with Vicodin and methocarbamol so far. I may try the Savella again if my pain increases."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "Day 8 and increasing dosage slowly. Foggy brain better. Some areas of pain are better, but hands/wrist are at a 10 pain level now. Swollen and tender. Not sure what is going on but hope it tones down soon. It feels like the hydrocodone is not working as well now and little pain relief. Nausea and hot flashes are the main side effects so far. I noted others were taking the night dose early in the day to help with not sleeping at night. Will try that since I am still awake half the night."

• Viv...
• July 17, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on Savella for about a year. The medication greatly reduced my pain. Initially, after titrating up, I was on 100 mg. However, it caused my blood pressure to go really high, even with the medicine I take for blood pressure. I reduced the medicine to 50 mg, which helped some with the blood pressure. However, the nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, sweating have continued. The nausea and vomiting are bad enough that I am willing to go off the medication. I am hoping I can find something that will help as well, without the side effects. The benefits are outweighed by the side effects for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "Savella was awesome for my chronic back pain. Unfortunately, the side effects were too serious. My blood pressure skyrocketed to 160/110, my resting heart rate skyrocketed to 136, and my estradiol levels plummeted to that of a postmenopausal woman (I'm only 37 with no history of early menopause). I experienced hot flashes that would have me dripping in sweat with absolutely no physical exertion whatsoever. If it weren't for the side effects, I'd love to take it. I sincerely hope there are people out there who can take this and not experience the side effects, because it was like a miracle for the pain."