Savella and Constipation: 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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• 5ba...
• June 29, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "Savella has changed my life! I'm 23 years old and was diagnosed with Fibro when I was 15, and no one had ever really even heard of the disease at that time. I had extreme pain 24 hours a day. Some days I couldn't walk because of the pain in my hips or lift my arms because of the pain in my shoulders. Savella has helped me to do everyday things again. I still have small pain when it gets cold, but other than that, the pain is pretty much gone. At the beginning, I had small stomach aches and was slightly constipated, but that has since passed over the 3 months I have been on it. The only side effect I still have is I sweat when I sleep. It's not a lot, I just never used to before. But I will take those small side effects for the comfort I now have!"

• 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."

• Ano...
• July 6, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I'm a 51-year-old female. My fibromyalgia was diagnosed 6 years ago in 2003. I also have neuropathy, degenerative disc disease, Celiac disease, and an assortment of autoimmune disorders. I've just completed the first two weeks of being on Savella. Only in the past few days have I noticed a very slight easing of my pain. The side effects that I am experiencing are: dry mouth, increased headaches, some blurred vision, increased tingling, mild constipation, some short-term memory problems, moments of confusion/disorientation, and a few episodes of increased heart rate. I've decided to continue with the Savella, at least for 4 more weeks, as long as I can tolerate the side effects. Of course, it's my hope that I'll see more reduction in my pain levels as my body adjusts to taking the Savella. In the past, I've tried to take Lyrica two different times. However, the side effects from it were simply unbearable."

• smi...
• September 11, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on Savella for over a month and have found it to be the most effective medication yet for fibromyalgia. I also take Neurontin and meloxicam, and the combination of the three keeps me almost completely free of pain. No more brain fog, no more mornings where I can't get out of bed or days where I have to go home at noon because I can't function. I was worried that I would have to give up my management job due to this sickness, but if things keep going like they are now, I will be able to keep on working. Constipation, cold sweats are annoying, but not debilitating like the pain. The first week I experienced anxiety and unnecessary worrying (I'm not a worrier normally). Thanks!"

• Ran...
• September 10, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I am much improved on my fibromyalgia, which I have had for 35 years. I have taken all of the drugs mentioned plus more. I have had a spinal fusion and have had other discs that are deteriorating. So I continue to take pain and muscle relaxing medicines, primarily for those. The only side effect is that I have had mild constipation. I use hydrotherapy at my local physical therapist facility. This has been a big help in many ways. I have only had two days when I thought my fibromyalgia was back. I say thank you, thank you to the makers of this medicine."

• lil...
• March 2, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I am starting my second week of Savella and think that all the reviews I read with horrible side effects listed must have been from people coming off of something else. I am hypersensitive to medicines and alcohol and usually can only tolerate very low doses. I started Savella and was really afraid of the side effects. Here is what I have noticed: first day nothing, second day nothing, third day a bit of a runny nose and a little insomnia, fourth day a little constipated and a lot of insomnia. I am now on my seventh day and the only thing is still a little constipated, no nausea or headaches or anything. And my world seems brighter. Don't know if that is what is meant by the fog lifting, but everything seems so bright and clear."

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I have had fibromyalgia for about 10 years. I had gotten to the point that I was in so much pain that I was considering going to a pain specialist for more medicines for pain. My doctor suggested Savella, and I have finished the two-week pack, and I feel great! A lot of people who have such side effects need to check what medicines they are on and make sure they do not interact with this drug. I have severe dry mouth, constipation, and some twitches. But I am at a pain level of 3 or 4. My thing was when I was sitting I had throbbing pain, and now I notice that I have no pain at all while sitting still and was amazed and so grateful. I have been going out with friends and walking and even walked to my mailbox, which is a good way away. I love Savella."

• AFi...
• August 26, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "Have used Cymbalta and then Lyrica for years. Weight gain and blurred vision were the worst side effects. I have now been on Savella for about a month, and the side effects are awful. Constipation is the worst! Even so bad, I have been to the emergency room feeling like I was in labor. The sweats are almost unbearable. I also have chills and insomnia. Headaches are now a daily occurrence."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on Savella for about a month now. Started with the titration pack. Felt relief within a few days. Pain is not gone, but certainly diminished to a point where I feel somewhat normal. Doesn't help with neuropathy, but does lower muscle pain. I have had muscle cramps/spasms in my legs at night, some slight constipation, and now some headaches have started the past couple of days, but I am so grateful for this medicine. Some days I feel that I don't need to use my handicap plaque! I previously used Salsalate, which helped, but nowhere near as good as Savella. I wish the price would come down. But I'm on it happily!"

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I'm on day nine and woke with a nasty headache that got worse when moving, and then the vomiting began. I'm not stopping the medicine, though. My muscles feel looser, the fatigue is much less, and the overall pain is down. My blood pressure is up, and I expect I will be adding a medication to control that because that is better than fibromyalgia. I was not aware of a lot of the symptoms described here (constipation, stomach bloating, chills-all of which I have experienced slightly). My mood is definitely improved. I've weaned off Effexor now and am almost off of it. In the past, I've tried Lyrica with no luck at all but had bad visual symptoms. Cymbalta worked for about six months and then stopped. Paxil and Effexor worked for the mood only."

• pai...
• January 25, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I am currently finishing the titration packet. I have four days left. 50 mg twice a day. Yesterday, I started having terrible stomach cramps right after I eat and have diarrhea. When I don't have that, then it's constipation and really bad gas pains that make me feel like I have to go, but of course, nothing happens, so I have to wait it out. Also, not sleeping well at night. Wake up at all hours and trouble getting comfortable. My legs, which have always been my worst symptom, don't feel any better yet. Also, I have a terrible pain in my neck and shoulders, which ironically didn't start until three days after I started the pack. Anyway, I will try to keep taking them for at least a month and pray for some relief."

• mso...
• October 11, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Savella for almost 5 months and am overall very disappointed. Switching from Lexapro to Savella made for one week of hellish symptoms. Then I had nearly every awful side effect that is listed for Savella: rapid heartbeat, nausea, constipation, sweating, shivering, insomnia, etc. I was getting some significant pain relief, though, maybe 60%. The rapid heartbeat was a real concern, so I cut back to 75 mg for a few weeks. The pain relief decreased, so I went back up to 100 mg again. Although the rapid heartbeat was no longer a problem, the FM pain relief has never returned either, and I still have the side effects, though the severity has lessened. My plantar fasciitis pain is the only pain that is really reduced."

• Anonymous
• October 24, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "On day 12 of Savella and felt major relief of my pain almost immediately, but once I was up to the 25 mg dose, the sweating started. I continued the titration pack to the 50 mg 2x daily but decided, after my doctor suggested, to go back down to the 12.5 mg 2x daily. I had minor nausea, and that went away, but the hot flashes and sweating continued at least once an hour - every hour of the day. I have to be sure to drink lots of fluids to avoid constipation, and my appetite has been decreased to the extreme and have lost a pound a day so far. I am making sure I eat healthy when I do eat and should probably start taking a multivitamin too. Today, I reduced my dose yet again to 6.25 mg twice daily to see if I can get some relief from the sweating."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I switched to Savella from Cymbalta and have been taking it for less than a week. I am currently on the 25 mg twice daily dose in the titration pack. This medicine significantly helps with my pain, and I do not have the cloudiness in thought that I did on Cymbalta, but that's where the good ends. Every night, I have the most vivid, terrifying nightmares of my life, and I wake up completely drenched in sweat after only a few hours of sleep. Sometimes, when I wake up, my entire body is numb, I am paralyzed, and I experience visual hallucinations. I have lost all motivation to do my daily activities, and I spend most of the day napping. I am getting tremors and occasional involuntary muscle movements. I have severe constipation and no appetite."

• Gee...
• June 19, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I'm on day 4, my pain level in my limbs seemingly is improving more each day. The only side effect so far is constipation. I will start using a stool softener. I'm praying this will help me."

• she...
• June 2, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I'm having a lot of fullness and sharp pains in my stomach, and also have constipation."