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How do you know if a med has stopped working?

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Posted 12/12/2011 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Savella for over two years now, it took a couple of couple of months before it kicked in...and I did notice some beneficial changes. It was not the miracle med I had hoped for...it did not take all my pain or fatigue away, but there was some improvement.

Since I've started the Savella, I've had med changes due to my other health issues and added more meds due to added diseases. I'm to the point where I don't know what med is working and what one isn't. How do you know if a med has stopped working?

I do know that some of my meds potential side effects are the same as the symptoms they are supposed to treat and that some meds mixed together aren't the best combo. All my doctors know what the other doc has me on. It is my rhuemy who monitors all my bloodwork to make sure my metabolic pannel is not messed up.

I love all my docs...but sometimes I wonder if medicine is part educated guessing and part trial and error smhair

Wondering should I ask my rheumy about weaning off Savella or have him increase the dosage....I'm confused turn

Hugs, Robin

 

Posted 12/12/2011 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what to tell you about that but I hope you start getting relief soon.
Posted 12/12/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I know, Robin....it's so frustrating. I wonder sometimes about my Nortriptyline and Klonopin, esp. the Nort. which I've been on for almost 20 years. My doctor makes no bones about it - he says, "We don't really know how the human body works. We're just guessing," and he graduated in the top 1% of his class, so I believe him!

Probably the best thing would be to get several opinions, incl. your rheumy's - which is, of course, what you're doing!

What are the symptoms you're experiencing?

Debbie
Posted 12/12/2011 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
It's hard to tell, especially if you take a lot of different medications.  Unfortunately, we have heard on this forum before that Savella works good for a while and then it stops working.  If you are noticably different with pain, that might be what is going on.  I'm just guessing but remember people complaining about this issue with Savella.  I do think this can happen with any medication, though. 

 

Maybe, with your doctor's permission, try skipping a dose and see what happens.  When I was taking ibuprofen, I sure knew when I had forgotten to take it. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 12/12/2011 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I really hope you can get this sorted soon and get some relief from your symptoms! I'm sure half of medicine is trial and error, but it sounds like you have a good team on your side. Have you told them of your concerns?

I have a hard time believing anything is working and usually put it up to coincidence. That's why I'm always on and off the malic acid. I'll probably stop my blue light after a bit too, until I feel bad again. I did the same with my amitriptyline. I was doign well this summer, so I cut my dose in half. Probably why my flare was so bad this fall. Or not ;)

gentle hugs
Posted 12/12/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies :)

I think winter is tough on us...it's the time of the year that my conditions seem to act up...my fibro and arthritis are really competing against eachother and can cause the other junk to flare up too. The added pain is a result of everything going crazy :)

This Wednesday, I see my rheumy again...We have the med conversation alot...I seem to be between a rock and a hard place...trying to do what I can to get pain relief and slow down the autoimmune junk without doing any damage. I really don't want an increase in the Savella and DO NOT want a prednisone taper. He might increase the MTX and that is scary too :)
I sound crazy...Don't I ?

Thank Goodness I have you all, and still holding on to an ounce of humor :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 12/12/2011 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
 Hey Robin...From what I know about Savella and other SNRI's, the beneficial effects can last several years then the drug poops out and you have to wean off or updose.  The symptoms of tolerance CAN be very noticable...brain zaps, nausea, sweating, heart palpatations, cortisol rushes and other goodies that are obvious...the same symptoms people MIGHT get if they wean off.  Some jump off very easily with no problem.  If you have no symptoms like this, you might just have to ask your doctor to increase the dosage and see what happens.  Hopefully, NO MORE PAIN!  (if you think this is the drug that is no longer doing it's job).

Very Frustrating...I know!

huggies

Donna

 

Posted 12/13/2011 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Robin,
I was on quite a few medications, all of them prescribed by my rheumy, except some heart meds which the rheumy was aware of, and yet I began to have problems with meds messing me up that I had to figure out on my own...no one else seemed to know what was going on. I became VERY depressed even though I was on an antidepressant and I was heading towards places I never want to go back to. It was then I realized I needed help...psychotherapy and she helped me wean off of many of the drugs. I realize this probably is not what you are dealing with, just wanted to mention it wasn't the doctor that made this discovery. Remember, it is the "practice" of medicine...scary, isn't it? I truly believe that most doctors remember and believe in the Hippocratic Oath, to do no harm...and yet, I think a lot of what they do is a crap shoot. Now, this is coming from a mother of a physician and I have two nephews that are physicians. I am NOT anti doctor, I just realize they are human just like the rest of us, just with a bit more medical knowledge. I believe in doing the research and trying to find out for myself what's best for me. Sorry, it's getting late and I'm tired...not sure if I'm making sense...not that you need to diagnose yourself...I better stop... I hope you find answers soon...
Miriam
Posted 12/13/2011 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Donna, I know what you've been through with the brain zaps and all. I've been lucky tolerating the dosage of 50 mgs of Savella 2x daily...not sure what will happen if I choose to go higher...but at some point...that might not work long term either and I will still have to wean off it. I'm so indecisive lately!

Miriam, I do hear you...I'm always researching alternatives online and asking docs questions.

I keep thinking ahead...we will be retiring in 5-6 years...How much money do I want to be throwing at meds?

Thankyou for your input :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 12/13/2011 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Miriam, you made perfect sense and I do agree with you.  I like the line "a practice of medicine".  I love my doctor but I don't always agree with him and have found some things that have helped me that he just scoffed at because they were alternative things.  We know our bodies better than anyone. 

 

Robin, I hope you get some relief.  Yes, the colder weather and fronts coming through really affect us.  We've had quite a few here in the South lately, haven't  we!  I would just suggest you keep track or a log of what is happening and include the weather fronts as a possibility, too.  If you are like me, if I don't write it down, it's g-o-n-e. 

 

Sherrine

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