Milnacipran and Dizziness: What Users Say

• lit...
• October 28, 2015

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "After years of pain, I was diagnosed with fibro about two years ago. I thought I could change my diet and lifestyle to make the pain go away. Using vitamins, going gluten-free, light supportive yoga, etc. After suffering for about 5 years, I finally broke down and went back to my doctor to ask for medication. She gave me Savella. I have just completed the graduated starter pack, and let me tell you, work through the nausea, insomnia, dizziness, and headaches. I have never felt this good in my life. I still don't have much of an appetite, and get a headache here and there, and from my clothes hanging off of me, I know I have lost weight. (I refuse to own a scale, they are evil!) I start my second month tomorrow, and pray that this continues."

• DCe...
• April 28, 2016

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed in 1993 with fibromyalgia, didn't believe it was a legitimate condition. With information now available, I have accepted that I do, in fact, have fibro. I don't buy into taking prescriptions if at all possible, this condition has forced me to seek some relief in the form of a prescription. I started Savella a little over a month ago and am thrilled with the results. Trying to not get too excited, but I really do feel better. The pain is better, I have a clearer mindset, the fatigue is less, and I could not be happier. I did have dizziness and heart palpitations, but they have lessened over time. I suggest you try if you want some semblance of a life back."

• Fib...
• August 8, 2019

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "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."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "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."

• Ali...
• December 29, 2015

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 4 years ago. I have tried Lyrica, Cymbalta, Flexeril, and all I experienced was nausea and no relief from my pain, itching, and general discomfort. Savella has been the only medication to relieve my symptoms with only mild dizziness. Unfortunately, my insurance will not cover it in 2016, and my cost will be over $130/month."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "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."

• T t...
• December 23, 2015

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "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."

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

Milnacipran 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."

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2019

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "Just started Savella about 2 weeks ago for my fibromyalgia pain. It has relieved my pain some, but not liking the side effects at all, which have included dizziness, abdominal pain and discomfort, and anxiety. Still trying to weigh out whether this script is worth taking or not. Going to finish up dosage and then make a decision from there."

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2011

Milnacipran 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."

• GMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2021

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I have been on Savella now for 5 weeks. 25 mg x2 daily. I am hoping the side effects I am experiencing subside, as it has helped my pain. I am experiencing vertigo 24/7 to the point I am scared to drive. Headaches which come and go, profuse sweating, and flushing of my face. Other medications have not helped. I tried Cymbalta but experienced excessive yawning to a point it was debilitating. Thank you to all who have posted about their experience. I am trying to hang in there and hope the side effects subside. I do wish the cost was more reasonable. I am paying $437 a month."

• Amb...
• March 22, 2012

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Savella for a year now for my fibromyalgia. I was weaned off Cymbalta and on to Savella. The first month or so when starting on Savella, I had extreme nausea, but when it passed, it was worth it. It worked really well on my fibro symptoms and allowed me to be somewhat active again (gardening, swimming, chasing my young children). About 6 months into taking Savella, I started having dizziness and heart palpitations that caused me to suddenly feel like I was going to pass out, and then I would vomit. My doctor lessened my 100 mg dosage to 50 mg and the episodes stopped, but my fibro symptoms slowly started coming back. So then I went up to 75 mg to treat the symptoms. Now, after being on it for a year, it has stopped working."

• del...
• November 8, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "My fibromyalgia had gotten extremely bad due to a great number of stresses in my life this year, so the doctor recommended I try Savella. I was on a drug called Pristiq, and when my psych doctor found out about the Savella with it, he said I was beginning to experience serotonin syndrome - not good. I got off the Pristiq and cut way back on how much Savella I'm taking. I'm going to increase it very slowly and hope the side effects will subside. Reading that for some it took 2 months gave me some hope. I've been having hot flashes, nausea, dizziness, headaches, no energy, but - hardly no pain! I will keep trying."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I stopped taking Savella during the 2nd week of the titration package. I didn't feel any pain relief; maybe if taken longer term I would have. I experienced many of the side effects others have discussed, including bloating, weight gain, anxiety, and dizziness. I stopped taking Savella because I experienced a severe panic attack followed by weird heartbeats, twitching muscles, electricity zaps, and vertigo. This is how a serotonin syndrome began for me 1 1/2 months ago for which I was hospitalized. Perhaps I am at greater risk for serotonin syndrome, having had it before. Still, I caution you to be careful if you are on other serotonin medicines and Imitrex. Savella will augment the serotonin effects and may leave you very sick."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I stopped taking Savella during the 2nd week of the titration package. I didn't feel any pain relief; maybe if taken longer term I would have. I experienced many of the side effects others have discussed, including bloating, weight gain, anxiety, and dizziness. I stopped taking Savella because I experienced a severe panic attack followed by weird heartbeats, twitching muscles, electricity zaps, and vertigo. This is how a serotonin syndrome began for me 1 1/2 months ago for which I was hospitalized. Perhaps I am at greater risk for serotonin syndrome, having had it before. Still, I caution you to be careful if you are on other serotonin medicines and Imitrex. Savella will augment the serotonin effects and may leave you very sick."

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 20, 2017

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I have had fibromyalgia for about 10 years now. My Dr. tried Cymbalta and then Gabapentin, which both seemed to help at first, but only for a short time. Then maybe 4 years ago, a new Dr. put me on Savella. At first, I felt nauseous, dizzy, and had headaches every day. All those symptoms continued, but not as severe, but I started feeling like I could get around better, and my muscles weren't as stiff or sore as before. But then, being diagnosed with BPD and anxiety, those meds weren't where they should be, and I started feeling really down and depressed. I told my Drs. about it. Then, trying to get Savella refilled, I found out they weren't going to refill it because insurance said I had suicidal ideations. But after 4 weeks without it, I feel so much better! No sweats, dizziness, etc."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I took Savella for about 45 days. I started out on the titration pack. The more I took it, the worse I felt: nausea, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, dry eyeballs, etc. While taking Savella, I was also taking 40 mg of paroxetine, which I have been taking since 1997. My doctor decided that I should come off the paroxetine and increase the Savella to 200 mg. I couldn't do it at the same time. So I weaned myself off of the Savella in about a week, and now I am in my second week of weaning myself off of the paroxetine. I don't know if I will try Savella if I get off paroxetine or not. I have come off paroxetine before to try other drugs: Effexor, Celexa, Lyrica, Cymbalta, but always went back."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I took Savella for 1 week. The side effects I had were worse than the benefits. I had chills and then hot flashes. I would wake up feeling as if I hadn't been asleep. I also experienced dizziness and fatigue."

• Pre...
• April 3, 2010

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I had good pain management with Savella, but the dizziness and nausea were too overwhelming to continue past one day. I realize I may not have given it enough time, but briefly, here is my experience: I took the 12.5 mg pill during brunch (9 am). One hour later, the nausea began and didn't stop until the drug wore off 8 hours later. The fibromyalgia pain relief, however, was almost instantaneous! I could move better, and my energy was very good. The dizziness began about 11 am. It also lasted until the medicine wore off (around 7 pm). Finally, at about 8 pm, the dizziness and nausea left, and my balance got better. However, the fibromyalgia pain came roaring back."

• Ros...
• March 1, 2011

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I've been taking Savella for a month. I have done fairly well on it. I have noticed some relief. I am experiencing dizziness, but I am also taking generic Zanaflex, so I am not sure of the cause. I would caution people to be careful taking this medicine with other antidepressants that affect your serotonin levels. You might want to take them separately, it might make you sick."

• Anonymous
• May 22, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I just started this medicine 4 days ago. No real change at the moment. Still sore, but I am not in a flare, so I think it is too early to judge yet. It does make me sleepy and a little dizzy, but the body has to get used to it. I am very hopeful this will give some relief."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "Well, I've only been taking Savella for a few days for my FM, but it's affecting me negatively. I'm so dizzy, I have no energy, but my heart is racing. The side effects are too much for me."

• Net...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2019

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "This does help with the nerve pain, but I could not function even with the low dose. Gave me dizziness, felt high, no energy."

• mrs...
• July 23, 2009

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "Only the 4th day and can't sleep due to rapid heart rate and high blood pressure. Very dizzy and nauseous. Panic attacks due to the side effect of this drug. Feel terrible."

• Che...
• November 21, 2017

Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia "I took this medicine only once, had a violent reaction: dizziness, vomiting. I felt like I was poisoned. Will never try again, if I could give less than one, I would."