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Posted 9/2/2009 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone having good luck with this newest fibro drug? DR. just started me on it. I also take Lyrica, Ultram ER, Trazadone, Ambien, Zanaflex( as needed), Darvocet(as needed). I was diagnosed with Fibro in 2006.
Posted 9/2/2009 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Angel!!

And I so glad you've joined this wonderful Fibro Family! Without the friends here I doubt I'd have an much quality in my life as I do and I'm sure you'll enjoy it here too.

I've not tried Savella but there are a few people who have. There was a thread just a few days ago about this medication. I'll look for it and bring it to page one for you. As I remember someone was having problems getting off the med BUT...as you likely know, we all react very differently to medicines. I don't think any two people in this forum have the exact same medication regime.

Is your doctor keeping you on Lyrica while trying the new Savella? I guess they are prescribing Lyrica and Cymbalta at the same time but they all have different modes of action. Below is a link to Webmd.com where I got the following information. Plus another link with some more good information on Savella. It helps to understand what the different medications are trying to do to relieve some pain.

I hope this helps and others will be by to share their experiences.
Chutz

"Savella belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which include some antidepressants.

Savella is only approved for adults. It will bear the same "black box" warning as antidepressants about increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Other FDA-approved fibromyalgia drugs include the nerve pain drug Lyrica and the SNRI antidepressant Cymbalta. Other antidepressants may be used to treat fibromyalgia but aren't specifically approved by the FDA for that use."


http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20090115/fda-approves-fibromyalgia-drug-savella

http://arthritis.about.com/b/2009/01/27/savella-what-fibromyalgia-patients-need-to-know.htm
Posted 9/2/2009 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, Angel

I am glad you found us! There a plenty of understanding and caring people here. We
help eachother whenever we can.

There has been a lot of discussion on Savella lately. I am one who has been on it for
seven weeks now, with no bad side effects and no noticeable relief either. There have
been members who tried the Savella but suffered from severe nausea and quit taking
it.

You can catch up on all the old Savella posts by going up to the right hand corner and
putting in a search for it. I am sure there will be members coming along to welcome
you.

Don't be a stranger, come and post often, ask any question, comment or vent

Robin
Posted 9/2/2009 5:01 PM (GMT 0)

Hey, there...

Day four of Savella, and I have more energy than I've had all summer put together!  yeah I'm actually sewing the binding on my Mother's Day quilt top gift from DD Katie, and may do some pieceing after that.   I wonder if this stuff isn't just legalized speed...

I am still having wicked brain shivers, shocked almost like some little demon is inside my skull, giving the brain frequent rude nudges.  As I tried to describe it to Katie, it's almost like radio static that I can feel, not just "hear".  I suspect this is still withdrawal from the Pristiq. skull (I had been on it two weeks, but on Effexor for several years before that.) 

Anyway, if I can clear up the head, and get my still-faulty memory and word-searching straightened out, I think I might actually consider looking for another nursing job!  Uhm, as long as I could pick the hours, and seriously avoid stress.  I'm NEVER going back to the hell that is hospital nursing!

Cheryl

Posted 9/2/2009 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Man, did I ever posttoo quick on the Savella. SHortly after my last post, I was stitching away on that quilt binding, when I felt my engine start to stall. I tried to keep at it, but my stitches were getting pathetic, so I gave it up. Got a snack, took a quick nap, (fell asleep almost as quick as I hit the sofa!), dreamed almost immediatly, and woke with a combination of freezing hands and feet, with hot flash/sweats everywhere else. And I have that infernal body-wide itch again.

Savella, or more Pristiq withdrawal? Good lord, will I ever feel right again?????

Cheryl, cold, tired, and frustrated.
Posted 9/3/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!! Actually I found this site by accident, but I'm glad I did. I liked what I saw and decided that I needed to join. Thank you to alll for the posts. I am on day 3 of savella...nothing unusal to report. I stopped the cymbalta to try the savella. I take the Lyrica along with it also. My DR. explained that if we tackle this from all sides we have a better chance of relief from fibro's symptoms. Each of the drugs that I do take tackle it from a different angle. I have found significant relief in the combination of meds I take. But I'm not quite where I'd like to be. I don't expect a cure....just want to be able to function in life.
I'll keep you posted on how I do with this new med.

Angel_Hug
Posted 9/3/2009 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Cheryl's post reminded me of the times when I've taken something, either prescribed or self-prescribed, that was supposed to give me energy. Most of them work, but only for a few hours or days. Then I get a terrible letdown, with fatigue, even worse fibrofog, and often migraines as I go through withdrawal. I don't even use any caffeine anymore. I'd rather fight my way out of my fog naturally every a.m. than suffer the consequences of an artificially induced high. If my doctor offers to prescribe something to give me more energy, I say no thanks!

Annie
Posted 9/4/2009 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Annie, I'm at the point where I'm not sure which problems are Savella, and which are Effexor/Pristiq withdrawal. Had a counseling session today, and Charlene (counselor) knew each and every symptom I described, from having recently nursed her best buddy through wicked Effexor withdrawal. She's very concerned that Savella precludes taking any antidepressants, and, since I can't seem to stop crying once I start, so am I. (and, I can cry at WalMart commercials!) Anyone have any ideas on boosting serotonin naturally? (besides an IV infusion of straight chocolate, that is...)

I'm grateful for the energy I have, but once it's gone, it's gone with a crash. The pains actually seem worse, not better. I'm sleeping two hours at a stretch, and waking with disturbing dreams. My emotions are all over the place, so strong I'm glad I don't have to be in public-I believe I'd scare people! I'm determined to stick with it, and get past the withdrawal, to see how much the Savella might actually be helping. As miserable as I am, I believe it would be worse if I wasn't taking the Savella. Only time will tell.

Oh, and I got word today-since I've applied for disability, I'm ineligable for unemployment. I knew this was coming, but it still took the wind out of my sails. Tomorrow's gotta be better, right, Miz Scarlette??!?
Posted 9/4/2009 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Cheryl...I haven't tried Savella but I have been on Lexapro for two years and instead of bumping up the dose to give me the relief I had at first, I've been trying to wean off for MONTHS!  What you are describing with these brain/head sensations are so annoying (zaps...feels like my brains are swishing around in my head with a killer startle reflex with every movement of my eyes) that I end up taking a piece so I can get through the day.  No more SSRI's for me.

Donna

Posted 9/4/2009 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Angel,

Hi, I posted earlier to you, telling you that I am on week seven of Savella. At the time
I posted I did not think I was finding any relief.

The past two mornings I awoke without my usual stiffness, so I have hope that the Savella
is finally kicking in for me. I hope it works for you!

Robin
Posted 9/4/2009 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Angel - I hope the Savella will work for you - good luck and welcome

Robin - I hope this is the beginning of your relief - I have my fingers crossed for you!

Cheryl - I don't understand why they switch us the way do. Your body was accustomed to a certain amount of Effexor (which has a very short half life) and then they start you just like someone who is new to an AD on the lowest dose of Savella. Wouldn't it make sense for you to just begin at the therapeutic dose? Maybe discuss with your dr accelerating the titration until you feel better?

I had the brain shiver things my first week on Savella because I had to come off Lexapro to go on it. They made me remember why I said a few years ago I would never go on another AD!
Posted 9/4/2009 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
DreamspinnerCheryl,
Savella is an antidepressant. It was used in Europe for over a decade for depression before it was approved here for fibro. It is an SSRI type AD so make sure you consult with your doc and/or pharmacist before you try any natural ways to increase your serotonin. Too much serotonin can be harmful or even fatal so be careful.

If you are still increasing your Savella dosage, you may find some relief for your depression when you get to the full dose.
Posted 9/5/2009 2:42 AM (GMT 0)

crazykitty,

 Thanks for giving me hope for this new med. Less stiffness would be good. I'm on a pretty good combo of meds, but guess I'm still hoping for a little more relief in order to continue working. I'm not ready to give up working yet. So I'm hanging in there. :-)

Angel_Hug

Posted 9/7/2009 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on it for about 4 months, it seems to be working for me they did have to increase my dose. I am down to only 4 meds a day and 6 vitemins. (cant spell). I am still working 40 hours a week. Somedays I dont know how I do it and try to work on the house also. Keep with the Sevella, it should help. yeah     
Posted 9/8/2009 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on week four and I've been feeling really great, actually. I had some problems with nausea in the beginning but my doctor told me to wait it out and it's gone away now. I still have pain and tiredness but I feel like it's brought me down from an 8 to a 4 or 5. My mental functions are up, too, I'm finding my schoolwork to be easier, which is good because I have a heavy course load this semester to make up for dropping classes in the past. I would like to finish my degree on time.

It hasn't been a day and night change, but it has improved my life somewhat. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but I don't feel like I'm at my wit's end all the time. It really takes the edge off for me. I've also been less depressed, though whether this a direct result of the drug or if it's because I'm feeling better, I don't know.

The only downside for me is dreaming. I dream all night and they're always weird and random dreams. Sometime they're nightmares and wake me up, but it's not too often. I've found that if I take my sedatives before bed I don't have this problem, but I don't like to take them unless I need to, so for now I'm just dealing with it. It doesn't really affect my life, it's just strange. Maybe it'll go away after awhile.

Savella is also the only medication I'm on regularly aside from vitamins so I know that my reaction is not influenced by anything else. I hope the rest of you who are trying it out experience benefits, too.

-Sandi
Posted 9/8/2009 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Angel, I am glad to report that after being on Savella for 8 weeks, I finally recieved
a week's relief from my usual muscle burning, stiffness and achiness. It took 7 weeks to
kick in, but I am glad it did. I have to say that I was very fortunate not
to suffer any bad side effects, like the nausea ect.. I know when I tryed the Cymbalta
I had many of the bad side effects that others have had on Savella. Hoping you get
relief soon.

Upbeat, thanks for crossing your fingers for me. I think it helped!

Robin
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