Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 4)

• nvj...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2017

"I'm reading all of your reviews. Please stay strong and believe in this drug. I was one of the first people on it. I started out on low doses, my doctor slowly worked me up to the max of 100 mg, 2x a day. It has been a lifesaver for me. I am suffering from other problems now, my fibromyalgia had become lupus 4 years ago. And I fear it is progressing to even worse. Savella helps. I had to miss 2 doses for a procedure and thought I was going to die from the pain."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2012

"Given Savella by my doctor. It's a miracle medicine but start slower to avoid side effects. The titration pack is too fast. Also, you should stop at the dose that takes care of your pain. I was at 25 mg 2 times a day for a long time. When my stress went up, the pain came back, so my doctor increased me to the usual dose of 50 mg 2 times a day. Pain is gone! There are coupons online. I had sweats as the only side effect that went away. I'll take that over the pain any day!"

• Dr ...
• April 7, 2010

"I have my doctorate in Clinical Counseling and am very aware of the 'placebo' effects of medication. I've had Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia for years and have tried many pain medications and antidepressants. Three months ago, my physician prescribed Savella, and it has given me my life back. I had some side effects, not too uncomfortable, but I continued Savella and am so glad I did. If you are suffering from side effects, talk to your doctor and try to stick with Savella until your body adjusts. Brain fog is gone, even if I feel tired! Physical pain is not all gone, but with fish oil tablets, all pain is gone, and I can walk up and down steps, etc. Fish oil: 1200 mg a day, six a day and more in the wintertime. Take care."

• Cat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 5, 2024

"I have been on Savella for 6 years. I had tried everything else you can think of with no success. I learned about Savella from a new doctor after we moved. I figured it was worth a try. I was amazed at how well it worked for me. The only real side effects I have are a slightly faster heartbeat at times and I crave salt now due to a lower sodium level in my blood. Definitely side effects I can live with. Savella has been a miracle for me. Savella has drastically improved my quality of life. My only issue is that it is very difficult to get insurance to cover it. IT WORKS!! I have made crazy copays and even paid out of pocket full price a few times just to not have to stop taking it. It was worth every penny to me. After 6 years of living what felt like a 'normal' life again, I'm having issues with insurance and am on day 6 with no RX and I forgot how awful I used to feel all the time. I pray my appeal to the insurance company comes through ASAP. I can't live without this medicine."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2022

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia after suffering from pains in various parts of my body, exhaustion, and overall lack of interest in most everything. I've now been on Savella 50 mg 2 X a day for about two months. My results are astounding. Significant reduction in pain. The first two weeks I did experience nausea and headaches, but was willing to continue, for I already had some reduction in pain. Give it a couple of months to fully work. The feedback from others on this site was helpful. I hope my positive experience is also helpful because I've finally got my life back!"

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2009

"I'm on day 6, and I already feel the difference. Yes, I felt some chills, mild fever, and dizziness. I figured I would continue to see how it went. So far, so good. I was in pain for the past year, and I was just diagnosed this month. My pain is not completely gone, but I can honestly tell you that I feel about 80% better, which is better than I've felt in a long time. I pray that it continues. My side effects are almost completely gone."

• uke...
• June 25, 2012

"I have been on Savella for maybe 3 months now. I have seen improvement in my pain, but the extreme sweating is causing me to rethink if the Savella is worth it. I am a nurse, and it's very embarrassing when I have to step out of a room to wipe my face before I start an IV (one of my patients thought her IV was leaking, and I had to tell her, 'No, it's me.' Yesterday was the worst day. My hair was never dry, and I was dripping sweat in my face, and my eyes were burning. I ordered a sweatband (did not want to do) and will try this before I stop the medication. Hope this helps you."

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2021

"I have just started taking this about a week ago. I had been taking opiates for the last 7 years and decided to stop. I went cold turkey to detox my body, and it was awful for a while, but I read about Savella and thought I would give it a try. Cymbalta and Lyrica did not help, marijuana did not help, and I dare say Lyrica and Cymbalta made it worse, so I was a bit skeptical about Savella. Now I can honestly say it started to work immediately. I am pain-free as I type this. I have to take another dose in about 12 hours, but that is okay. No real side effects yet, thankfully. I have not felt this good in years, even with the opiates. Fingers crossed it continues to work. Interestingly, I had to research this myself in desperation, and I had to tell my doctors I wanted to try it. Go figure that my pain doctor/neurologist and my GP never mentioned this drug. I wonder if they just wanted to keep me visiting them once a month for script refills. Dose 12.5 mg."

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2013

"I started Savella a little over a month ago and had not experienced any side effects until the last two weeks. Palpitations, elevated resting heart rate, and right-sided headaches, which I did not realize were due to this medication because I didn't experience any initial side effects. Overall muscle pain has been greatly reduced, and energy increased. Bummed out that I may have to stop due to the new side effects."

• Deb...
• December 16, 2015

"I have recently started taking Savella, and it has really made a difference in my mood, clarity, and desire to do things. I have less pain... still have pain, but somehow it's not as debilitating. Very pleased so far... as far as side effects... I have most of the issues it causes anyway, so not sure how I would know if it was fibro or the drug. This has been a very positive experience. I still take Lyrica... this is one I would like to stop taking, but I can't convince my neurologist."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2009

"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."

• Che...
• October 7, 2017

"I've had fibromyalgia now since I was in my 30s, I am now 63. Back then, I was told it was depression, all in my head, you name it. I tried several medications, nothing helped until I tried Savella. It's a miracle medication for me, although I take the highest dose allowed, 100 mg 2x a day. The only problem is it's very expensive. My prescription plan pays some, but I'm stuck with a bill of about $1,200 a year. Unfortunately, I cannot get help because I inherited my mom's IRA that has $35,000 in it. Sad they can't make this a generic drug ☹️. I feel trapped because I feel like I need this medication to survive."

• ian...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2019

"I take Tramadol for my fibro, and it helps with pain, but needed something for severe fatigue and listlessness. I started Savella 25 mg twice daily and went up to 50 mg twice a day. The sweating is unbelievable. I change PJ's twice a night because I'm soaked. The last two days now I'm experiencing severe shakes, palpitations, sweating whenever I want to clean something. I have to get off of it because I'm afraid something will happen to me. I have no difference in the fatigue at all. I'm making an appointment with a neurologist in the hopes he can help."

• bet...
• August 9, 2010

"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."

• Anonymous
• August 3, 2009

"I have been on Savella for only a few days so far. I had taken Cymbalta for a while, and it helped, but not significantly. My main symptoms are insomnia, fatigue, and pain, and the Savella has helped with my fatigue more than anything I've ever taken before. As someone posted earlier, I feel like I can actually plan ahead a little for the first time in a while. My pain is still a major problem, but I hope that will improve as I have been on Savella longer. I have not really had any side effects at all. I am tired of my illness controlling my life, and I will not give up. Hopefully, Savella will be a real factor in getting my life back. Good luck to everyone out there dealing with FM."

• T t...
• December 23, 2015

"I am on day 14 of the starter pack and I have to stop. I have had nausea, vomiting, dizzy spells, blurry vision, drunk feeling. I was stopping venlafaxine and slowly tapering off while starting Savella. I had a rash for about 24 hours too. This is the worst side effects from a medication I have ever had. I have also lost about 4 pounds in 3 days because I have not been able to eat."

• Anonymous
• April 6, 2010

"I have been a fibromyalgia sufferer for about 9 years now. I saw a rheumatologist a month ago. He prescribed me Savella. I have to say that I was a bit worried about the side effects after reading a lot of patient reviews, but I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad that I did! My fibro pain went from a daily average of 9 to about a 2. My energy level is up. My mental focus is back! I've started to see the extra weight come off. I'm even thinking about going back to work! My side effects only lasted for about 2 weeks, and they were so mild that I was hardly bothered. The only real problem that I've had is insomnia, but I've always had that problem, and I'm getting back on Ambien for that. Try this medicine, it has changed my life!"

• JJ1...
• March 26, 2012

"I have been on Savella for about 2 weeks now, and I have not had any side effects. Today I feel a bit tired, but other than that, I really like how most of my pain is gone and also have lost about 15 lbs in about 2 1/2 weeks. I am really happy that I am able to move around like normal. Yes, I do give myself time to relax, that is the key when having this fibromyalgia. I give Savella 2 thumbs up."

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2010

"Worked wonders for me! After about a month on Savella, I began to feel human again. It was so odd because I had forgotten what that felt like. Was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago and started on Savella about 10 months ago. I am exercising and working in my yard every day. I had not done this for years. My family is even amazed at the difference. Thank you for this medication!"

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

"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!"

• rhi...
• January 19, 2012

"Since I was 16 years old, I've been in so much pain! I also deal with endometriosis and TMJ, so the pain can get pretty unbearable! I'm only 23 and a stay-at-home mom of a two-year-old, so you can just imagine how bad things can get! I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia last month, and my doctor gave me Savella. I can honestly tell you within one week, the huge difference it had made! I was very emotional the first time I finally felt relaxed, as you can imagine, 7 years of constant pain had taken a huge toll on my young life (which I pretty much missed out on college, parties, etc.). I haven't had any side effects with Savella, it has saved me! I really hope it works for you as much as it does for me!"

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

"I've been on Savella this time for a couple of weeks. I've noticed I have constant headaches and constipation, and that doesn't help because I have IBSC. I do suffer with headaches, they are worse now, along with all my other health problems and medications. I go back in a month to see my PCP. Savella has helped with my fibro pain, and I have lost weight. It's just the constant headaches and constipation. I hope my PCP will have a solution because I don't want to stop taking it. I have tried Lyrica in the past, I couldn't take too many side effects. I also took Cymbalta, it worked well, but my insurance stopped paying. Then I started reading about all the lawsuits for Cymbalta. So I hope my headaches and constipation get better."

• mcr...
• October 24, 2009

"Savella has really improved my life. I am a nurse who works 12-hour shifts, and before this drug, I had to crawl out of bed, work my 12-hour shifts, then sleep for days until it was time to return to work again. Now, I have a new lease on life, and this is the first time in 25 years where I don't feel as if I was dragged under a bus all night when I get up. It has not been without side effects. Most notably, rapid heartbeat (up to 125), sweats, hostility, and irritability. I've found that 6.25 mg daily is the most I can tolerate. It does not come in this dosage, but I break a 12.5 mg tablet in half. My pain is not totally gone, but the fatigue is remarkably better. A couple Tylenols twice daily helps with the pain and stiffness. Keep trying to find the right dose for you."

• UCT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2019

"Have undifferentiated connective tissue disease, lupus markers, could be fibro. Anyway, muscles hurt. Savella the first week gave me the feeling of losing all hope. The feeling of why am I here? What is my purpose? I stopped taking it, didn’t get through the first pack. I called the pharmacist and asked how long it will take for this med to leave my system. He said 3 days. For me, Tramadol works the best. Teva brand out of all."

• Anonymous
• February 29, 2012

"Savella gave me my life back!! I was diagnosed in 1999 during junior year of high school, and I am now 30 years old and able to start living my life again. I am now holding down a part-time job, returning to school full-time in a medical technology program, and reconnecting with friends. I have a life again, I have a future again, thanks to this medication!"