SAVELLA Reviews (MILNACIPRAN HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 3.0 (158 Ratings)

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 Type: Rx Drug

  

SAVELLA  (MILNACIPRAN HYDROCHLORIDE):  Milnacipran is used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting tissues. This medication is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters).   FDA Approval Date: 2009-01-14 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR SAVELLACOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 5  Fibromyalgia Nausea, perspiration. I started with the titration pack, and the first week was tough on my stomach (felt nautious). I also felt sudden increases in heart rate and was sweating more. After about 3 weeks, the side effects went away, and so did most of the pain. This drug really works if you can stick with it. 42 8 weeks
11/9/2009
 4  Fibro Occasional headache, hot flashes, weight loss Aweful side effects for first week, then disappeared mostly. Hot flashes and sweating were common at first, then only occasional episodes. Pain is still here, but not as bad as before taking it. Lyrica was good for pain, but the minimum dosage still left me with too many heavy side effects. Savellla worked for 50 mg twice a day, but increased another 50 to make it 150 mg a day. It is better on the higher dose though, and may ask for the maximum of 200 mg a day because my body metabolizes drugs faster, as shown through blood levels, so it takes a higher dose for me. When I increased to 150 mg a day, the side effects increased temporarily and now is back to just occasionally again. I think it is a great medication, but it still does not take away all the pain. Nothing has taken away all of it though. Give it a chance, because I never would have found out that it was a steady and stable drug if I didnt stick it out the first week or so--especially with the terrible sweating and hot flashes. Thank goodness they disappeared, at least for the most part. F 38 4 months
11/9/2009
 5  Fibromyalgia Nausea, increased heart beat, hot flashes. A little tough to stomach at first, but I am really glad that I stuck with it. The pain is much, much better, I feel like I can function again. F 39 5 weeks
11/6/2009
 4  Fibromyalgia Horrible side effects to begin with, horrible headache, vivid dreams, nausea, stomach upset all during the titration period. Also very high blood pressure. The initial uptake of this drug was very difficult. I didn't think I would make it through the starter pack, but I am so glad I held on. I still have some side effects, high blood pressure and headache, but the fibro pain is so much better and I can't remember the last time I slept so well. For me, the drug makes me sleepy so I have not had to use the flexeril since starting the savella. If you have been through many drugs like myself for fibro, give Savella a chance. It seems like we might have a drug that works on fibro which is a rarity. F 48 4 weeks
10/28/2009
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 2  RSD/CRPS Tried out Savella for RSD/CRPS (already on Lyrica, Ultram, & a bunch of other stuff). Suffered through the whole trial pack with the severe sweating, red face & neck, shaking, etc. I finally broke down and called the doc when I couldn't handle the anxiety attacks and shaking anymore. (when I called the pharmacy, they told me I should maybe check myself into a rehab!!!) My doc told me to stop immediately and have an appointment next week to discuss other options. Boy, I guess I'm the FDA posterchild for bad side effects!!! F 45 1 months
10/23/2009
 5  fibromyalgia headache, nausea, hot flashes if you continue through side effects for some of us it will work, quality of life better than in many many moons am definitely an advocate F 55
10/21/2009
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 3  Fibromyalgia Hot flashes, sweating for no reason which caused a rash on my legs and arms, at times it feels like I've ingested poison. I definately feel more energy and reduced pain. However the hot flashes and sweating became extreme after taking two 50mg doses a day. The rash is most likely from the sweating. The doctor cut my dose in half and its day 4 of the reduced dose. I feel terrible. The pain has increased everywhere in my body. I feel dizzy and I'm having nightmares. I rode out the side effects of the titration period and really thought this was a great medicine until now. Hopefully my body will adjust to the lower dose and I'll still be able to see some benefit since all of the other fibro drugs don't work for me. F 42 45 days
10/21/2009
 5  Fibromyalgia A little hyper at first, heart palpations, hot flashes, sweating The side effects seemed heavy the first few days, but disappeared completely after a week. Once in a while I will get a sweat for no reason, but its rare. It took away a lot of my pain, although nothing has ever done anything 100 percent for fibro. Out of all that I have tried, Savella is the best, with the least side effects. I felt more mobile and less pain throughout my body. I am on 50 mg now, but I will ask for an increase to 100 mg, the max per day, because I feel it working real well. Since there are almost no side effects after the first few days, I can tolerate Savella real well. I just hope that 100 mg will not give me side effects. This new drug has potential. Beautiful. F 37 6 weeks
10/20/2009
 4  fibromylgia pain, headache daily dry mouth, some constipation, more calm during the day, sleeping better at night. I believe my pain is being reduced little, by little. It is taking time and my Dr said to give it a chance of at least 2 weeks. my appetite seems to be reduced, has anyone experienced this??? 53 10 days
10/20/2009
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 3  FM some nausea, some loss of appetite, terrible insomnia I am still taking the titration pack and I know it takes a while to really affect the FM but I have noticed that I am a little clearer the past two days, I have horrible "fog" . It is almost as debilitating as the fibro pain because I just can't function, I have high hopes for this medication, I have been miserable for years and Pray PRAY that this really works! F 33 7 days
9/29/2009
 2  Fibromyalgia Tremendous increase in arthritis pain--i.e., I had only manageable pain in my feet and it got to the point where I simply couldn't walk for exercise if I had done anything else that day. Many other side effects that I am not so sure of--doc yesterday told me STOP TODAY. I have been diagnosed with fibro since 1988, am the anecdotal subject of a scholarly article. I urge anyone who's been recently diagnosed to start with generic gabapentin, which is a lot less expensive and a mainstay for me. F 53 60 days
9/12/2009
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 4  Fibromyalgia pain Lost appetite, more pain, headaches and sleepy in the beginning(took it at night with my flexeril & vicodin) for 2-3 weeks. But, I read to stick it out, and boy am I glad I did! I also have vivid dreams. I really haven't had dreams in such a loooong time. The only real side effect is occasional constipation!! And randomly I have had an eye twitch for the last week...not sure if that is from the savella tho? I take it on an empty stomach. First thing in the morning and earlier in the evening(I take half a 10mg Flexeril, so sleep is no problem). I feel like I am 75% better with pain and my muscle twitches have almost(except for the eye twitch) completely stopped. It is not perfect, but, I feel pretty great. I wish it could work like this for everyone. On a side note: my insurance took quite some time to approve my coverage for this, so I had to only take 50 mg per day for about 4 wks, I think that helped with my tolerance and side effects alot. By not increasing it so fast. I am not suggesting everyone do this...but, I believe it helped me. F 37 4 months
8/23/2009
 2  Depression Sedation shortly after taking dose, marked insomnia, rapid heartbeat/pounding heart, severe difficulty urinating, loss of libido, decrease in appetite, mild jitteriness, intermittent nausea. Had to stop taking it because of the usual intolerable side effects. Except for Remeron, almost every a/d I've ever tried has made me feel like I'm ingesting poison. They have to start doing a better job of refining these drugs! An enantiomer of Savella is currently in phase II clinical trials--maybe that will cause fewer side effects. F 47 1 weeks
8/1/2009
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 5  Taking Savella for fibromyalgia It is helping the muscle and joint pain better than anything else ever has. It's almost like I don't have fibro. Still have some fatigue, though. Drugs.com has a drug interaction check, and there are many meds that can't be taken with Savella-- including Ultram. If you are taking it, please do yourself a favor and check for interactions. F 2 weeks
7/9/2009
 5  Fibromyalgia FIRST WEEK: nausea, headache, nervousness. TAKE IT WITH FOOD - AND TAKE IT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND BY MID-DAY, OR IT WILL KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT. Give it at least two months for it to fully kick in & work properly. It isn't an instant fix - and it is nothing like Lyrica! Lyrica is poison. Savella gives real hope to fibro sufferers - if taken correctly! Savella works great. But the first week of side effects while titrating are a bit uncomfortable. After that, it's GREAT for energy, pain & brain fog, although it takes a couple months to see dramatic improvement. IGNORE any reviews from people who stopped taking it after the first week, because they most likely did not take it properly and just are not giving it a real chance to work. Savella is not a pain pill; it does not work instantly. Very important to remember: TAKE SAVELLA EARLY AND TAKE IT WITH FOOD; always take it with food. I take it at 5 a.m. & 2 a.m. (for 7 weeks now). If not taken correctly, it'll cause headaches/nausea. Don't give up; just give it at least two months to work. I take my doses halfway through my meals. If you take the second dose too late in the day, it will interfere with sleep. The second dose should be taken before 2 p.m. Unfortunately, doctors also aren't telling patients that because Savella is an SNRI, it SHOULD NOT be taken w/ other antidepressants or it'll make you sick (serotonin syndrome). Take it properly & give it a chance - because Savella helps A LOT for fibro sufferers! Wonderful for pain, energy & fibro fog. F 38 7 weeks
6/16/2009
 5  Fibromyalgia, depression None. This has helped me TREMENDOUSLY with my fibromyalgia pain and depression. I haven't felt this good since before I had my two children. My doctor said this has been used for decades over in Europe for as a treatment for depression. Good luck! F 32 60 days
6/15/2009
 4  Fibrromyalgia High blood pressure developed after 14 days. Other than HBP, this drug helped me more than anything I have ever taken. I feel like myself again. F 42 30 days
6/9/2009
 2  Fibromyalgia, depression Started out on the tiration dosage pack of 12.5 to 50 in 3 weeks, the first week was great, the second week great, then the third week hit me and I literally could not get out of bed, I had extreme tiredness and fatique unlike anything I have ever had and I am a very active Mother of four, four grandchildren a gardener, etc. I stopped cold turkey when I read the precautions included calling a Dr. immediately if extreme fatique or tiredness happened. My Dr. was out of town. I need a drug to help me, I have tried sooooo many and need one, I take Tramadol for pain, (I believe it is the best antidepressant out there) and Xanax for anxiety. Good luck on Savella, I had such hopes for it, maybe if I went back to the initial 12.5 twice a day it would help? F 55 1 months
6/9/2009
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