Milnacipran and Sweating: What Users Say

• Ela...
• December 12, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "This medication Savella did wonders for my fibromyalgia for the month I was on it. My muscle and joint pain disappeared, and I had energy and could focus again! The caveat: it made me sweat profusely. Dripping sweat. It made me look like a drowned rat every day. My blood pressure also skyrocketed, and I often felt my heart racing. So I have weaned off the medication, and now I am in pain again. At least I'm not worried I'll have a stroke and I don't look like a drowned rat anymore! On to try something else."

• Tri...
• September 3, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I found Savella helpful for my fibromyalgia. I was on 50 mg a day. I was probably on it for two years when I began to get high blood pressure, palpitations, drenching sweats, and a general feeling of unrest. I stopped taking it and all side effects began to subside. I could not tolerate taking it anymore. I did not think it was really doing much until I stopped taking it and noticed flare-ups of fibromyalgia symptoms. I find I am sensitive to Neurontin, Lyrica, prednisone, and many medications."

• 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."

• Riv...
• August 4, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I visited a rheumatologist the first time about 3 or 4 months ago because my osteoarthritis appeared to have worsened over many months. I had gone to my family doctor but he couldn't understand the reason for my pain becoming so severe with my osteoarthritis. I was frustrated as a nurse because I walk a lot at the hospital. The pain was more than I could stand, starting at my lower back, down my right hip, and on down to my right leg above my knee. I cried numerous times with this discomfort. I could tolerate the pain with my swollen knuckles, loss of cartilage in the knees or any other pain, but NOT the back pain. I have been taking Savella and the back pain is significantly reduced! I do have heavy sweats and I remember my dreams."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• Del...
• March 6, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "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

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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• 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."

• Chi...
• March 26, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on Savella since 2010 (5 years). I had tried Cymbalta and Lyrica prior to Savella, both of those made me gain so much weight that I became depressed. Savella was amazing after the two weeks of hellish side effects to get on it. I had brain zaps, manic phases, irritability, sweating, and sleeplessness, then no symptoms for 4 years. In the last year, I've developed tachycardia, which I blame on Savella. Interestingly, I've also developed idiopathic anaphylactic allergies in the last year. All in all, I think Savella did its job and pulled me out of the cycle of pain. It practically cured my vulvodynia. But I would have had another child if the pregnancy side effects were known."

• 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?"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "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!"

• uke...
• June 25, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "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."

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

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• mcr...
• October 24, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "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."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Savella for over a year, it helped with the pain, but the side effects kept getting worse for me, not better. The profuse sweating got worse. It finally became unbearable, and I had to stop the medication. I was changing clothes 2 and 3 times a day and taking 2 showers a day due to the sweating. It also caused body odor."

• mrd...
• October 2, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "48-year-old firefighter (I'm not one to give up), dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms for the past 5 years. Doctor prescribed Savella, been on it for three weeks and wow, what a noticeable difference when I miss a dose. It doesn't completely take away the deep muscle pain and stiffness, but it does help keep the pain tolerable so I can function, especially during cold, wet weather changes. The most notable side effect for me was the sweats (excessive sweating spells) and dry mouth, both are side effects I can live with."

• Min...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "This medicine helped a lot with the pain. The problem was the side effects. I did not mind the weight loss, but the sweating and the high blood pressure were side effects that could not be ignored. Therefore, I had to stop taking it."

• 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!"