Savella

  Can anyone give me any info on what they have experienced for side effects from the med savella?? It was supposed to have been the wonder drug. I took it, felt better as far as my pain went, but then have experienced what I would consider an ungodly amount of problems in the last 1 1/2 since starting it. I cant even begin to explain the hospital trips, over night sleep studies and days spent in bed!!! Please let me know!! Thanks

I personally have never tried Savella, lyrica or cymbalta that are all suppose to be for fibromyalgia. So I am no help there. But would like to welcome you to the forum. I see you have only posted twice and I haven't met you before.

I hope that your medications don't have too many side effects for you to be able to tolerate. If it is helping, sometimes we have to take the good with the bad. I myself take norco for pain and vyvanse for fatigue.

You didn't finish saying how long you have been on it. You said 1 1/2 but didn't say weeks, or months or years. IF it has only been weeks, the side effect might go away. But if it has been years, you might need to switch to something else. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

I was to scared to try it because I am so senstive to meds. I have been doing so well on natural vitamin supplements. If it doesn't work out maybe try some vitamin supplements.

Thanks Karen!!

Well, I was diagnosed about 2 years ago with Fibro. My mom, really was a huge help, I hate that she had to go thru what she went thru but, she was with me and told me what exactly to ask the doc's for. She's had fibro for about 20 years but went thru about 10 different diagnoses. It first all started for me with my feet. They were the worst. My Doc sent me to a foot doc and he did surgery in three places on my left leg and foot. But, did nothing. I still had all the same pain even after the surgery. It clicked with my mom and we started asking q's about the fibro. After that went to different docs was diagnossed,  finally had something I could call it!! Was also experiencing other things such as sleeplessness, sore muscles all over, tired, depression and so on. I tried the Lyrica and didnt get any relief from it. My Doc said again lets try this new drug out now that they are using to relieve pain for fibro. I was all over it.. I thought Yeah!! I did feel better for a while but over the last year and a half since starting the medication, I have had so many bad things going on with my body I just cant seem to come to terms that my body got that bad in year all on its own. There are just too many to believe.

These are symptoms I have had since taking the medication savella:

High Blood Pressure, Heart Palpitations, High Anxiety, Insomnia (worsened) sleep study done:nothing wrong they say, Extreme Migraines (never had headaches before) ER twice for these, Extreme Chest Pains!!! ER twice for these thinking I was having a heart attack!! Sadness, Anger, Worsend Depression, Thoughts of Suicide( I never ever would have ever thought about that ever in my entire life), and just really not wanting to do anything, just being tired!! My family hates me:( They know all I want to do it is lay in bed and watch tv... Thats Bad!!

I think right now the migraines would be my most severe disability. It affects my life daily!! I just feel like every aspect of my daily life has changed so much and I wonder if it is the result of this medication. I am at ends with my doctor and all the other ones that tell me that there is nothing wrong or they cant help.

Thanks for replying, and maybe here you guys can help answer so of my questions!!

You listed a lot of really bad side effects. It sounds like it is reducing the quality of your life, plus possibly putting you in danger.

What benefits are you getting from the Savella?

Are the risks worth the benefits?

(Marketing made Savella seem like a miracle drug but the original clinical trials showed it as everything but.)

Savella worked really really well for me but, unfortunately, it wrecked my stomach. I'd talk to your doc about discontinuing the Savella because of the wicked side effects you're having.

Dagger, that doesnt seem right.. They should definitely count you, especially if you had to drop out. That doesnt increase my confidence in pharm companies.

Dagger,

WOW, thats crazy but sounds about right. They definitely wouldnt want anyone to know how many people couldnt handle the drug, I mean you know, thats less money in their pocket! We couldn't have that now. Thats why I feel so discouraged even going to my doctor, it just seems to me that they all feed of off each other and will keep pushing you into new meds before you can even rule out the what really doesnt work. We are supposed to be trusting them with our lives and from my experience, they have only worsened it. Yes, sometimes the pain is really intense, but it is not worth what the side effects do to me from those meds. I am really looking into maybe trying to find some natural things that I can do to help subside some of the pain. I may not aleviate them all together, but, I would still be saving myself from trips to the ER for the 100 other sysmptons... If any one has suggestions or ideas for any thing natural please pass them my way.. Or if I find anything I will pass them on as well. The only #1 thing I can say that is a 100% definite is water, I can say that. Water is vital and if I feel the soreness coming on, drink more water. It really does help.

Thanks kimliz59!! Good Luck to you too.. Everyone here has been really nice. Let us know how you fair next week!:)

Well. After reading through everyone's experiences with Savella I'm trying not to be swayed to discontinue, in order to try and give it time for my body to adjust. I must say that I'm on day 9 of the titr pack (I missed a day) so I'm about to start my 1st 50mg pill. But, the hot flushes, the nausea and the rapid hear rate are ridiculous. My resting heart rate has been has high as 128-that's a daily effect.

Since I started, it has not been below 109. When I say resting, I mean...I walk to the bp machine on my dining room table from the office or couch. My resting heart rate for a couple weeks prior to starting was between 70-93. MY BP is usually 119ish/70 Since Savella it's been around 128/93-98. I'm almost fearful of beginning this 50mg 2x daily because the vomiting may begin and the flushing and rapid heart rate I'm sure will continue to increase. If I'm rendered immobile due to side effects how is that any better than being rendered immobile due to pain?

I will admit, my pain has decreased by a significant amount. Enough for me to take notice. But jeez. Please keep in mind that I have been off all and any meds (sans Ibuprofen) for at least 5 years- I went rogue for this very reason, so no, I'm not experiencing symptoms from withdraw of something else or by mixing meds. My questions is...is there truly hope that if I stick with this will these side effects diminish or disappear completely? I have read a lot of your threads/posts but it was a few days ago and I just can't remember what was said regarding those who have great/good experience with Savella. The things is, I went rogue so long ago because eventually I had been on 17 pills a day and *they* decided I needed a morphine pump. I truly believed had I stayed on that path, I may not be here today. I can not go back to that life...but a little relief would be nice. I just don't know if my heart can handle it.
Do the side effects go away?

Fuscia, I too lasted a little over a week on Savella because of the nausea and the heart rate increase. I literally could roll over in bed and it would send my heart to ridiculous rates, like I had just exercised real hard. I constantly felt like I was going to have a panic attack; even had to leave work early one day, which dramatically affected my paycheck. Ive lived with the pain for the last 10ish years, and while Id like some relief, Im not willing to deal with those kinds of side effects.

I tried Lyrica as well, put on about 15 lbs in just a month and a half, so I stopped taking it. I hope you can find something to help you; Im also medication sensitive. Looking for a new, more caring doctor right now.

Hi everyone!  It has been a very LONG time since I have posted!!  Been battling one illness to another! 

I have been on Savella 25mg since October.  At first I had the blood pressure raising and heart rate issues too - my heart specialist ran test and my heart was fine he removed me from my low blood pressure meds and the heart palpatations stopped and blood pressure leveled out.  I am having other stomach issues such as bacteria overgrowth and the IBS flare up is BAD, I have a rectal tear  and hemmroids that will not heal since November with prescription meds.  Everything I eat triggers the stomach spasms and IBS as well as the hemmroids.  I am at my wits end.  I am wondering if it is the Savella?  My fatigue level is horrible as well.  Have you guys experienced it to this degree? I am just wondering if this relates to the Savella or if I am just being attacked by the IBS.  Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Be blessed!

 Tee

My doctor will offer, savella, cymbalta, lyrica..but being sensitive to meds...i am afraid of what i read about them. And even when he offers sometimes he says that the side effects can be worse than the help.

When i say sensitive to meds..i cannot take any muscle relaxer..no matter how small i cut it..i use tramadol , but 1/4 of a pill at a time...so in a day i take about what they perceive is 1 dose.

We are all just so different with medications and how you might react to it.with my baby doses of medication...i use topical pain relievers which assist easing the pain.

I think i had read reviews about the medications and was then scared to try them. Right now i am using sunlight ...because my vit d got too low which made all my symptoms worse.