Savella - What Fibromyalgia Patients Need to Know

I understand that the release date of Savella has been pushed back to this summer. Has anyone seen an exact date?

Can someone tell me exactly when Savella will be available? Thanks

The company is saying mid-2009 and has not been more specific than that so far. Here’s their press release: http://www.cypressbio.com/news/20090306.pdf

Guess it’s available. My wife came home yesterday with samples from her physician.
I’m wondering if it has any advantage over Cymbalta since both act by Norepinephrine and Serotonin Uptake…. Guess we’ll see…

I just received the 14 day sample pack today from the doctor. I’ve got high hopes!

If anyone has started these meds could you let me know if its helping? I tried Cymbalta and I am getting ready to try Savella.

My doctor just put me on it about a week ago and so far I have noticed a difference. I was taken off Cymbalta because it was not doing anything and this seems to be making a difference in a short time. I am finally able to say I have a hope.

I just started a few days ago and I truly believe that I feel better with more strength noted. There is a 2 week tapering to starting the drug and right now I am taking the minimal dose so I can’t wait to see how much better I am going to feel when I reach the actual daily dose regime.

I am on day 11 of the introductory packet of Savella–finally it seems there is something that seems to be helping..I only say seems because I do feel better-but big question will be for how long will this work..I hope it will be afor a long time..I seem to have more energy and though I still hurt it’s not as bad..I have actually felt like mowing the lawn and working in the garden..YEAH!

I have been on Savella now for 5 days. I still have soreness and stiff in the morning but I have noticed I am not having much of the muscle spasms. I went out with friends last night and my girlfriend said you seem like your feeling better. Its still early yet, so I am hoping !! You are not going to get better overnight, it takes time.

I have been on cymbalta for nearly 4 years. It made major difference in my life until this past winter. Perhaps it may be time to change the Cymbalta.
Sincerely,
LB

I have been on cymbalta for 2 yrs and it worked some what. but, recently it has started making me vomit and sick in the bathroom. I am on day 6 of the savella and I can really tell a great improvement. I am on medicare now so I don’t know how long it will take to get it preauthorized. I am feeling better and better everyday. I still have to take my pain meds and muscle spasm meds, but I am feeling better. I am hoping that after 3 yrs of dealing with ankylosing spondilitis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia that I may have hopes of finally getting part of my life back. good luck to everyone.

ANOTHER NEW MED…I AM REALLY PRAYING THIS ONES WORKS FOR ME. I’VE HAD ALL THE MEDS, THERAPY’S AND PAIN CLINICS, ACUPUNTURES AND POOL THERAPIES OUT THERE. SO FAR NOTHING HAS WORKED. I’M TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE AND HAVE HEARD SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS NEW DRUG. MAYBE THIS IS THE ONE FOR ME.GOOD LUCK YOU ALL…..I PRAY YOU GET SOME RELIEF.I START TOMORROW.

This drug will make millions, because people who are in pain will pay anything to feel free again.

Here’s an alternative for people with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, and other related disorders: research the ways that magnesium, B12, and vitamin D deficiencies are directly implicated in depression, anxiety, and musculoskeletal pain.

This drug is just an antidepressant in disguise. It’s an SSRI that calms you down by increasing the uptake of norepinephrine, the anti-adrenaline. It will treat your symptoms but not the disease. Go to your doctor, but instead of asking for this drug, ask for blood tests that show serum levels of vitamind B12 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. You might be surprised at what you find.

I was on Cymbolta for a year. Felt GREAT, but put on 25 pounds. I hate the weight gain, so my doctor agreed to let me try Savalle. I’m on my third day of my 14 day pack. I’m feeling light headed and a little sad. I think the sadness is because I stopped taking Cymbolta and my body misses it. My doctor tapered me off Cymbolta before starting me on Savalle. Hopefully the light headiness will go away within the next few days.

I started Savella three wks ago. I told my rheumatologist that if I went off Cymbalta I would cry all the time. It was rough for the first two weeks but I am starting to level out. What I love about it is how I feel in the morning. I feel more alive and the pain is better. It made me pretty nauseous and dizzy for the first week. I have been having some trouble with depression and irritability which I plan to discuss with my doctor. I do enjoy not being completely exhausted all the time I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. I didn’t have any trouble getting it pre authorized but it is third tier and my insurance isn’t going to pay much.

Good News! It’s here SAVELLA my wife just got her Savella prescription and we are praying that it will help her.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

I just started Savella about three days ago. Praying that it works!!! (have already seen slight difference in my fingers and mood) =)

its available now..my mom just started taking it

I just started taking the savella hope it works. For all of you poeple with out insurance or little coverage ask your doctor for a coupon from savella that gives 6 weeks free with a written script my doctor gave it to me. Also has anyone taken Lyrcia and Savella together and if so how are they working for you ? my doctoe just put me on both.

Now on day 7 (full dose) and not feeling so well. Dizzy, nauseous, super tired, and kinda pissy…

Not sure if this will eventually go away once my body gets used to the dosage… How are the rest of you guys doing?

Just got a sample pack, building up on the dosage slowly and my doctor recommended taking it even slower they its say on the packet make it stretch to 21 day so the side effect are easier to adjust too. After that you will be on a 100 mgs daily.

My vision has decreased greatly since taking Savella.Has this happened to anyone else?

I am on my 4th day with Savella – beginning 25 mg.x 2 daily. Very light-headed and very emotional. Was on 150mg. of Effexor & the dr. just did a switch from that med to the Savella. Feel sensation of air thru my ears @ times. Haven’t noticed any change in pain level. Really worried about the emotional side affect.

I am glad to hear the this med has helped some of you. My Dr. gave me a 30day trial pack and I am kind of afraid of taking it. I am on Lyrica and Effexor and feel good for the first time in years. Still trying to make up my mind if I want to take the chance on something else.

I have been on zoloft for 25 years up to 300-400 at times. Darvocet 3 X day and ER visits monthly. I tried Lyica and the first day my husband had to physically hold me since I was feeling disconnected from body and life.I had nausea, headache and pain increased in just one dose.Had to stop that! Then I tried Savella. I have been taking it for two weeks at the 50mg twice a day. It is working so well that I am able to be on a treadmill for 5 mins in am and have lost 19lbs. NO pain and no additioanl drugs such as Darvocet m tizandine and the Zoloft was reduced to 50mg..A first. Thank you SAVELLA

I started Savella 8 days ago…I can’t honestly say that I have had any relief w/the pain yet…I am extremely emotional though, sweat as much as I did with Cymbalta, still a little light headed, BUT…my eyesight has decreased also!!!!???? This is very scary to me…I am hoping that once I am completely used to the drug it will work, because the Cymbalta only worked about 4 months and then nothing… Good luck to all!

I am on 300 mg. of Gabapentin and 25 mg. of Savella (split into 2 doses), and am pain-free most days. My doctor started me on the titation pack only to find out once I was feeling much improved, my insurance will not cover Savella until 2021, so I am considering paying for it myself. I tried Lyrica but there were too many side effects for me. Cymbalta is my only other option that insurance will cover, and I’ve seen the list of side effects, and they are too close to Effexor for me.

I have been on Lyrica for over a year. The weight gain and the blurry vision and not being able to get my eyes to focus became worse as time when on. Except for those side effects it worked well for me. My Dr. switched me straight from Lyrica to the Cymbalta I have never been so sick in all my life. I couldn’t get out of bed for 4 days. So now I am trying the Savella 14 day trial pack. I am after 2 days already starting to feel nauseated and feel like I am going to vomit. Anyone else having a adverse reaction to the cymbalta or the savella. Very strange because I had none of this when I first started the lyrica. Tks. and I hope everyone in pain finds some release from it.

Reading all your comments makes me scared, Im going to be sick forever arent I? Im 20 years old, I don’t know why this is happening

Day 7 for me – initial side effects included headache and nausea — both were uncomfortable but manageable and pretty much left after 2-3 day. In seven days, have not felt the fibro pain! ~ except: the day after I overdid pretty majorly. So…we still pace ourselves. The release from nerve pain is incredible. The energy to move again is so renewing. And I just read that Fibro doesn’t always last forever….so that is my hope and prayer for the young who are encountering this terrible pain so early in life.

well i also started with the 2 week titration pack, slowly creeping up tp 100 mg a day. the drug manufacturers are having a field day with us, aint they? pushing the blister packs to get more people dependant on them. some med’s do help us but there is a pill for everything. i visit my dr. monthly for my med.’s and while waiting the suited reps flys in and out. that bothers me. i hope this medicine works for me. i was diagnosed 3 years ago w fibro and have arthritis real bad and alot of depression and sadness. but i think cymbalta is a horrible drug. i was getting worse and the dr. would increase it, and continued to increase it til i said stop , and weened myself off of it. and lyrica worked for my pain, but the extra pounds were too much for me also effexor is a weight gaining drug if ever i seen. good luck to all of you out there but i think it is in the air, and what we eat that keeps us sick, and this crazy world.

I havent tried savella yet and dont know if i even want to. Im been on cymbalta for a few years now. Im alos on oxycontin, fentanyl patch, lorazapam for anxiety ( which sometimes runs high when youre in day 5 of flareup and nothing is helping), ambien and amytriptyling for sleep. im on a few others like for kidney problems and ibs , and also on soma for muscle relaxer. I wish they could just mix it all up, make a cocktail, take it one time, even twice a day and youre done. i am so tired of medication, and all its side effects, that im afraid to wean off one just to get on another one with different side effects. Ive asked my pain management doc about savella, he says its almost like cymbalta. I dont know about that since he’s not taking it. so im still waiting till i find people who have tried it, for a while and say its working better than cymbalta.tried lyrica for about a month or month and a half, was swollen all over,feet,face, hands,eyes, i stopped it. I think all the docs are doing are simply treating each symptom of fibro with a pill that takes care of THAT symptom. i dont know where it will end.

Well I have been batteling this back problem for 9 years three disc fushions and I tell you what I started the Savella and all is good, yes I am very sad but at the same time have lost two very important people in my life (so who knows). I would rather try taking this 1 pill twice daily at any cost rather than any of those stupid pain meds that do not give you a clear head. I also have an implanted stim for permament nerve damage to the L5-S1. Which also keeps me off pain meds, a clear head is better than anything else.

I started the drug a few days ago. My symptoms are weird nightmares that frequent, and a high fever. No nausea yet with it. So far it isn’t doing anything but I’m going to stick with it.

I was on Savella for three weeks. I had been on other anti-depressans over the years but they made to very tired. Savella was to help with that. I started feeling very sad and angry, hit myself and tried to put a belt around my neck but my husband stopped me. I will 50 in a few months and have not have outbursts like this since I was a teenager. I stopped it and my doctor put be back on prozac. Just be careful, it will prorbably help a lot of people my it made me a million times worse.

Does anyone know what a month’s supply of 100 mg daily will cost without insurance? I haven’t started my 28-day sample pack for that reason. My former company (I’m on COBRA at present and have applied for Social Security disability) switched to United Health last January and they would not cover my Nexium and now they are not covering my Celebrex, which I am taking one a day of, and my last renewal the pharmacy wanted $116.89 for 30 pills, so didn’t get it and have about 15 left. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all and thank you for taking the time to post your much-appreciated comments. God Bless.

This is for 20 year old Neil. No you won’t be in pain your whole life. Mine started in my 20’s. I have had many remissions. There are doctors that are really starting to understand that it’s a multi layered illness. I know 1 person on Savella. She said it is helping. The vision thing has come up-people should pay attention to that.

I do agree with 14) Reiser about getting your levels of V-D and B-12 tested and the specialized tests done. Also, I was iron deficient and did not know it. So many doctors do not look throughly into your complete blood profile which holds many clues, after all it is ‘your lifeline’…no pun intended. I improved so much after being on V-D and some B’s–BUT DO NOT just go out and start taking them without knowing what your levels are because you could not be doing your body any big favors! I have been on Cympalta for several years, and yes it was a huge life savor for my FMS. Guess we will have to see about this new drug. I always like to wait and see about new drugs, often they end up yanking them off the market it seems lately…hate to say it but it is true. Also, from someone who has FMS for so many years, I am just so tire of NEW things that promise results for something that is so unknown and misunderstood. hugs to all of you with FMS

Hello. I’ve had severe weight gain with Lyrica, Effexor, Remeron… and a few others. Only Cymbalta seems to have helped a bit. But I have the following questions for those who have taken Sevella for atleast two plus months… if you’d be so kind as to answer:
1. have you noticed any significant weight gain?
2. any vision problems? have they improved or worsened?
3. nausea etc – has it stabilized or decreased after the initial few weeks of getting used to this med?
4. severe depression, suicidal thoughts for those who have never had them before?
5. anyone in Michigan whose doctor has prescribed Sevella for fibromyalgia?
6. Can you recommend any good physician who have helped with your fibromyalgia in Michigan please?

Please reply online or offline. Thank you so much and hope to hear from someone so that I can have some relief, however small!! Thank you and God bless!

I have been taking Savella for one week just started 50 mg in am and 50 in pm…I can tell a small amount of difference in pain…although the one thing I have noticed is I am VERY emotional!!! I have cried for no reason over the past week, scary but very Hopeful that this works for my Fibro and Depression. Good Luck to all who are trying it, maybe after the adjustment we will be blessed! I PRAY so. Wanda

Took myself off the drug… Was not doing a thing for me accept make miserable… Good luck to the rest of you!

For those of you that are asking about the price of medications, I would like to suggest for you to go the manufacturer/pharmaceutical company of your medications to see if you might qualify for their patient assistant programs. Allot of the pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs based on your income/tax returns. For the younger people with fms, I’ve had it since 1994 and have had flare ups about every 5 years, but the medication options are allot better now, & there are more options. Keep trying, find something that works for you, and please don’t ever give up. At least now most doctors are actually believing that fibro is not a fiber of our imagination and it is a disease. Here’s a hug to everyone that doesn’t hurt. ( )

I’ve been on Cymbalta for 3 yrs which was awesome for my depression, but no help for my pain. Tried Lyrica, no help for my pain, & gained 40 lbs. Ibuprofin has taken it’s toll on my stomache & is no longer an option, but never really worked. This last flare up has been active now for 18 mths & have been taking Vicodin, a controlled substance, for 12 mths. It never did really work, but did alleviate some of the pain and I don’t want to take a medication that would lead to a lifelong addiction. I am down to 1 in early am & 1 in the early afternoon.

I saw a pain specialist today & he said the Savella works differently than Cymbalta. He said, Savella works better on the nuerotransmitters in the brain & Savella is not used to treat depression. A chemical imbalance in the nerotransmitters has been linked to fms. For those of you taking Savella & are still suffering from depression, please talk to your doctor to get something to treat the depression. My doctor recommended for me to wean off of my Cymbalta at the same time as weaning on to Savella. Today is my first night time dose of Savella & I didn’t take my night Cymbalta. I still get to take my Amitripyline at night to help me sleep & is also an antidepressant. In 3 weeks I wull be completely done taking my Cymbalta & will be on Savella in it’s place. To all a good-night & hoping for a brighter less painful future for everyone.

Savella for 1 week and I am starting to feel and little more control over my thoughts and the pain is trying to diminish. I also wear 100mcg Duragesic, Norco 10/325, Soma, Clonazepam, Xanax. The cocktail helps mine to some extent. I just received Social Security after 2 years trying with a lawyer. I think that is great!!!!!!! Good luck to all of you with Fibromyalgia/CFS God Bless You

I WAS STARTED ON SAVELLA YESTERDAY,TOOK MY FIRST DOSE LAST NIGHT, AND THIS IS AUG.18TH 2009

I also just started the 4 week titration pack of Savella. Only on my second day. As stated by Sherry (post 43), my doctor also is having me wean off of Cymbalta while increasing the mg of Savella. I have fibro, and experience depression. My Goal is to eliminate Cymbalta since It wasn’t doing the job of reducing my depression, although my fibro got some relief from it. Savella hopefully will treat my fibro even better, and help with my depression. I will post updates on my progress.

CHECK OUT the web sites of FDA and webMD for side affects of many meds. There are many that report good and not so good thing about all kinds of drugs.

I was given a trial pack and I do not think I will take it. To many side a affects.

This drug was made in france in 1997, just aproved in USA this year Jan 14-2009

Check out FDA web site and webMD for more reports of side affects on a person.

Doc gave me a trail pack and I will not take it due to the problems.

This drug was made in France in 1997, just made it to the USA in Jan 14 2009 aproved by FDA. For pain of FM.

I am on my 3rd day of the trial pack of Savella. I am really feeling less pain BUT I have not slept in 2 nights
I already have trouble sleeping so this is really not good. But I did not have to take my Soma last night. I have had fibro over 20 years, since they fist called it Ebstein Barr Virus LOL. Name changed many times, symptoms never did! The pharmasist said it would cost about $140 a month in the gap period
of Medicare

I am just about to start Savella for the first time and have never taken Cymbalta. (This doctor also prescribed Requip, but I only want to introduce one new drug at a time.) I’ve been on Lyrica for 3 years (Neurontin before Lyrica) and noticed vast improvement in the neuropathy in my feet. The down side is the weight gain and blurry vision. I’ve been on Oxicodone and a time release Morphine Sulfate to combat chronic pain.

For those who have ANY Rx coverage at all – you do not qualify for Patient Assistance via the drug companies. You have to have NO Rx Coverage WHATSOEVER to qualify. There are other programs out there.

For those on Medicare – there are 2 programs I know of through Social Security/Medicare. If you call Social Security or Medicare, you can apply for both of them over the phone (just have your last years tax records when you call – and if your financial situation has changed dramatically from last year, have income records from this year in front of you.) Don’t get discouraged if you call and get nowhere – call back and talk with someone else (they are confused over there, and persistence can prevail.)

I am interested in what #14 Reiser said about vitamin deficiencies (magnesium, B12, and vitamin D) and will pursue blood tests to see if that is an issue.

Also, I want to include a couple of things that help me. Hydrotherapy in water 90 degrees or above (hot springs/heated pool are ideal, but hot tub or bath tub help well.) Soaking – weightlessness is similar to the feeling of being in the womb.

Another help is Body Flex (isometric/isotonic stretching along with deep breathing) a 15-minute exercise program where you barely move and the emphasis is on breathing (similar to a yoga breath) while stretching. While the actual Level 1 video/dvd is lame, it comes with diagrams of each stretch and if you get the breathing down, you can watch TV or listen to music and follow along with the diagrams. Level 2 has a better breathing technique, but I prefer Level 1 stretches with Level 2 breathing.

Also, another exercise program that is helping me is Qi Gong or Qigong – an internal Chinese meditative practice where slow graceful movements along with controlled breathing techniques promotes the circulation of qi (our life force within the human body.) Meditation helps bring down the pain level and the combination of these movements and breath truly helps. I especially like the program Qi Gong: The Flow Continues with Lee Holden. This program aired on PBS, but can be found at his website.

Good luck all!

I have had horrible, consistently worsening back pain for 9 years, I am only 36. I’ve been on Savella (lighest dose) for only 3 days and frankly I consider it a miracle drug. This has reduced my symptoms more than narcotic pain relievers, which I am happy to say I see myself easily being able to stop taking if Savella keeps working like this.

My only problem is a pretty severe nausea and sort of lump in my throat sensation. I hope those go away after time. I urge anyone with chronic pain to give it a try (believe me, I’ve tried all the rest – physical therapy, yoga, acupuncture, lyrica, anti-inflammatorys, epidural injections, 7 kinds of muscle relaxers, opiates, drinking the pain away, you name it). So far Savella works better than anything else!

Been taking Savella for three weeks and it has helped some. I did have bad depression the first two eeks but it has eased a lot now. My problem with it is diariah. It started off as an occassional thing, but now I am making several visits to the bathroom every day. I see my doctor this Friday and hope to get some kind of advice on this situation. Has anyone else had diariah on Savella?

I have just started Savella 1 week ago. It is helping. So far, I haven’t noticed any side effects.

I am only on my 2nd day of Saliva…I am scared to be taking it…due to some comments I read…
Besides my pain…which this is the first month that it lasted over 4 weeks…my mind feels foggy and my left eye is blurry..does anyone else have these symptoms of Fibromyaglia? I am only 39….my symptoms started 2 months after my bunion surgery…I was always healthy. I ran and walked….I eat healthy…..I feel so bad..because I can’t be the mom I want to be….

Savella is one of the most horrible things I have tried in a long time. I too have had fibro about 20 years. I have been seeing a family practice doctor but was sent to the second rheumatologist. This one informed me she could only prescribe three drugs for fibromyalgia, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. I took the blister pack and started weaning myself off requip at the same time.
The vision thing happened to me. I didn’t pay any attention at first-thought I was just tired. And, I was downright Mean! I didn’t notice any particular relief from pain-did have more energy but it wasn’t a productive type.
I made a long list of reactions for the doctor, which she didn’t take and entered maybe six words on her little computer. Probably it was “patient could not tolerate drug”
Constipation was horrible. There was also a loss of other bodily functions that started slowly.
Something I don’t think doctors really associate with this disease is the anxiety. I wouldn’t call it depression, either. This last doctor suggested I “read up on fibromyalgia” She didn’t take into account that I have Lived fibromyalgia.
I have taken neurontin before and it had the same effects in a way as this drug only smaller. It just did terrible things to me. Nightmares are frequent.
Unlike some, I am only rx’d tylenol 3, ambien, lorazepam. I am made to feel like a real drug addict about it, too. This last rheumatologist made me feel more like a drug seeker than someone who really had pain. And, she could only offer me the three drugs above as an answer. She gave me a trial pack of Lyrica but told me if I had no success with neurontin before, this drug was much the same.
When I was taking the requip I didn’t notice that much relief from pain or spasming but at least I slept better at night. The more Savella I took the more seized up my muscles felt.
Whoever mentioned the drug reps flying in an out are right. And the companies are blitzing the doctors with encouraging news that doesn’t necessarily hold true.
One thing that has helped in the past is plain old phentermine. Talk about a maligned drug. It’s mention will usually get you a big old lecture on how it just gives you more energy. Not so in my case. I have noticed a significant help in pain from it. And, it helps with the brain fogginess that fibro seems to accompany.
Take Savella carefully and keep a journal. Some of the side effects are very slow but not good in the long run. Writing down how you feel each day is sometimes more helpful for you to look back and see how you have changed.
I’m glad some of you are helped. It’s good to know that some people are being relieved.
I, for one, am very tired of being treated like a drug seeker when relief is all I really want.

How long does it take to start feeling better? I am on the 11th day of Savella, and this is the worst I have felt in years! This summer,I was on a great combination of Cymbalta and Provigil. It was the BEST summer I have had in 12+ years. Then, I lost my job benefits and had to switch insurance. This company will not cover Provigil as it is “not medically necessary”. If I thought I would eventually feel better on Savella, I would be more inclined to keep taking it. As it is, the pain, nausea, fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, and irritability are making it difficult.

I’ve been on Savella about 4 1/2 months. The first three weeks were horrible with nausea, sweating, and had trouble swallowing. The 100mg dose didn’t do much for me so my doc raised the dose to 150mg. Pain almost completely gone! I was down to only an occasional Vicodin instead of the daily max I was allowed. I’m also on a large dose of Neurontin, Ibroprofen, Flexeril, Xanax, and Klonopin for sleep. Reading here, some of the feelings I’ve had over the course of the last few months — worsening depression, irritability, sweating for no reason, etc. — may have been coming from the Savella; it’s so difficult to tell when you’re on such a cocktail of chemicals. It doesn’t matter now because all of a sudden my insurance refuses to pay for Savella and I will be going back to Effexor. I’m very upset and hope the pain doesn’t return to it’s pre-Savella level!

I was diagnosed with fibro in 1995; I’m sure I had it much longer than that. Some days are better than others and I’ve had several flairs where I could not work/function during these flairs.

My GP gave me the 2 week pack to try. after almost finishing it my BP has went up, night sweats, headaches (almost migraines), nausea, and depression. I’m stopping; another one to put on my “do not try” list.
I have tried so many prescription drugs with bad side effects that I am leery of them and starting to feel like I’m a guinea pig for the drug companies.

I can’t take pain pills due to allergies so it is back to sleeping pills, massage, vitamins (B complex, B12, D, Mg, E, C, and fish oil), and hot tubs/springs. These are the only things I have found that help to some degree. Otherwise its live with the pain and try to smile. (even though you want to cry)

Best of luck to all; I hope some of you get relief.

What does Savella Cost for a 30 day supply of the 100mg. dose? I have insurance so I don’t qualify for the prescription company programs, but it doesn’t cover Savella.

Thanks,

To #40 (I believe your initials were DD). You are in Michigan and looking for a doc. I live in Northwest Indiana, just south of I-80/94. There is a doc in Munster, Indiana, H. Alan Jones, DO., 219/836-9515. He treats Fibromyalgia and is using Savella. I also have FM and has just started a sample of Savella 6 days ago. I am guardedly optomistic. I got really excited with the Lyrica and then was allergic and really was upset so I am not getting my hopes too high but I wish you good luck and I hope this helps. God Bless.

Ihave had fibro for along time .Got a sample from my Dr. I had a very hard time with it, alot of side effects.I am still taking half 25+25 . Iam still very sick. Not sure where to go from here. m y Dr. is no help.

savella cost 139.00 for one month.

The cost for Savella in my area is $130.46 for a month….so far so good was really worried I would not get any relief but have side effects but so far so good…..I am getting up easier in the mornings which is nice….the aches have eased off….they were driving me nuts….so its nice to have some relief….I only hope it continues….
God bless you all!!!

Started about 5 days ago on the trial pack and feel the difference already. Much less pain at night and more energy during the day and much peppier in the morning. BP was fluctuating but seems to be leveling off. Flushing and sweating bothers me but if I can live without pain I’ll sweat. Man I hope I continue to feel this way, cause I’ve tried everything else with no relief. I think I’ll be able to take less pain meds and knock off tizanadine at night. Good luck to all.

I started Savella and on day 8 I am having very strange dreams like nightmares. Has any one else experinced this?

I have been on Savella for two months. I feel better than I have felt in nearly 5 or 6 years of terrible muscle spasms and pain. I do flush and it is uncomfortable, but it is a much more tolerable issue than not being able to move and function like a person. I am 36 years old and a teacher. I cannot afford not to be able to move. In addition to the Savella, I am taking zanaflex, a muscle relaxer and a does of Naproxyn , the muscle relaxer at night and the naproxyn during the day. My energy level is so much better, and I feel happier than I have felt in a long time, AND I feel like doing things, which is really wonderful, because I enjoy doing. I have lost nearly 10 lbs since starting the Savella, as it made me very nauseous and killed my appetite, but that’s ok too. I am a healthy weight for my height, and my appetite is returning to a certain degree. There has definitely been some adjustments with this medication but the trade off has been far less muscle pain and spasms from fibro. For those of you looking for a break from the terrible pain of fibro, I wish you much luck and I hope it works!

I just started Savella 50 mg twice daily. I was on lyrica 75 mg twice daily, then 150 at nigth time. It did not help me at all. I have MS as well as Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. I take other medications because of my MS but, I honestly have to say that as soon as I took the first pill of Savella I started noticing an immediate relief all over my body, from my spine, neck and legs. I felt normal, the way I used to be before my diagnosis, pain free. It took a while for my medicine to be authorized, I am on social security and AARP. Some of my medications my insurance do not pay for them, so I take them to Walmart and I pay cash for them, just $10.00 for 3 months!!! on some of my meds… Good luck to everyone… let’s hope that this medication will do us good.

Hello, I’ve had Fibro. for about 15+ yrs. Been on every med possible known to man for the first 3 yrs of diagnosis. None of them worked. So I just bit my tongue and went on in life with no meds what so ever. I start Savella and Lyrica tomorrow. All of these side effects y’all speak of, I already have and that’s without meds. So I’m kind of wondering, since I have all the side effects y’all speak of, without taking any meds, what’s it going to be like when I do take these meds? I have migraines everyday,ringing in my ears non-stop,nausau,sweats,can’t sleep,I cry a lot but that’s due to my husband being in Iraq until August of next year. So I’m kind of wondering, Should I take these meds? I see a psych for meds, Ambien and Xanax, But I haven’t even taken those meds at all yet. I have a phobia for meds I think. After all the heck I went through when I was first diagnosed with Fibro. 15+ yrs ago, I hate taking meds, they never worked and they made me gain terrible weight that I have faught since then to get it off. I saw my blood work and all of that is normal, B12 and all, that was mentioned earlier, those are all normal on me. He is checking Thyroid though and diabetes. In the meantime, I don’t know if I should go get these meds. On post does not carry these meds, So I have to go to Walmart and I don’t know if TriCare Prime will pay any or all of it. I don’t want to waste money on something that may or may not work or make me feel a lot worse than I already do. I had high hopes for these meds until I read the posts. Help please….

I have been on Savella for about 1 week and a half and when I started side effects of HBP and constipation were bothersome but they went away. I did have some skin itching and told the DR. He said that would probably go away. Well no such luck. I started the next level of 25 mgs 2 times a day and the itching got much worse. I called his office and I’m now off the drug. I don’t know what’s next, waiting for DR. to call back. Anybody else having this side effect? I really had positive pain relief from Fibro and back pain and I even lost a little weight in the few days I’ve been on it. Will post the next step and soon as I get it.

I took one month of savella. The last two days I got very dissy and had trouble breathing. So I stoped taking it. Saw my Dr he said he had 15 people on it and they were doing good. So I took 25+25 hoping to work with a lower amount. In a few days the breathing problem came back. This makes me back of from the savella. Fibromyalgia ia something they do not know alot about.So when they come with a medication, it makes me wonder, is this really going to help.I would love to have some help with this.But all the side effects of this drug makes me back, A Dr long time ago told me to be carefuul of all the drugs the want to give you . So I have. I see so many of you on so much drugs.Iwould never take all that. I have had fibro. for 50 yrs before they knew nothing about it.

I’m on Day 4 of Savella & Lyrica. Going on day 5. The only 2 problems I have now is the headaches, which I use Head-On Migraine for and it seems to work well, and I feel like I’m wearing shorts of pain. my upper thighs and mid section have pain if I sit too long. Other than that the pain in my feet and the rest of my body seem to have subsided. I also take Singulair and Symbicort for my Asthma. It’s working so good for me. And the ringing in my ears are almost gone. But I’m not ready to put in a rating yet. It looks like my Dr. is going to keep me on 50mg twice a day once my starter pck is gone. I hope this works for me. I’ve gone so many years with not taking anything. I’ll let you know how it goes when I start the 50mg from the starter pack late next week.

After reading the comments on Savella I am reluctant to start it. I got queasy just hearing some of you say it made you dizzy…I also have Minears Disease. My doctor gave me the script yesterday. I could not take the Lyrica or Neurontin. I am taking a B-12 shot once a month and 50000 units of Vitamin D once a week. I take Mirapex for my legs at night and use Ultram for pain. Right now I am in a major “fibro spell”…it is discouraging because you never know if you are coming down with the flu or it is the fibro.

Hi all, just started Savella yesterday. My Dr. gave me the 2 week titration pack.

Tina? A 2 week titration pack?

Okay, I was given a 4 week titration pack (28 days). He’s also keeping me on the 50mg after the pack is done. But my Lyrica went from the starter (don’t remember the mg) to 150mg. And the doctor told my I don’t just have Fibro, he said I have Acute fibro, and due to me going so many yrs without meds will do 1 of 2 things, It will either help me a lot or not at all.

I am on the 50mg savella and 150mg Lyrica now.

I feel weird,yes. I feel tired once in a while. Dizziness is light. BUT!!!, The pain is gone, I don’t feel it like I use to. Now I will tell you this, when I sit too long it kills my midsection (especially my hips). But I can get up out of bed and walk right to the bathroom instead of moving 1 mile an hour. I was told by the pharmacist that his wife is on the exact same meds as I am, She went through these side effect for the 1st month and a half. After that she was fine. She’s been on it since it first came out. She only takes the meds at night at bedtime now. So if we can just get through the first month. I think we’ll all be okay.

I Maria was told by my physican that I have Fibromyalgia. I am only 34yrs old. I sympathaize with everyone who has it. Like a lot of u guys I visited the ER several times this month and finally I was diaganose . I am on my third day of Savella I pray it works because I am tired of all the Vicodin and other pain meds I’ve been on. Neil buddy I know u are 20 yrs old and u were dealt this card at an early age. I feel u pain u and everyone that has this diesase. I just wish there was more they can do for us. I want to run in the park with my 11yrs old and my 3 yrs old daughter.I cry when my 3yrs wants me to carry her up the steps and I can’t.What she doesn’t know is that I can’t even go up the steps sometimes by myself. I am tired of being sick but I try to keep my head up. We have to take it day by day. Please exuse all the misspell words.

I was diagnosed several years ago. I was prescribed lyrica and it worked really well but after a year it stopped working, I felt my fibro got worse. I then tried cymbalta and I thought this is a miracle it took all my pain away I felt I could run a marathon again……but then the side effects kicked in, I was up all night….insomnia. I just started savella we shall see how this goes.

Hey Everyone!
Just an update!! So far still so good!!! No aches!
I began to have terrible headaches and I thought I would quit my birth control pills to see if maybe it was counter reacting…and yes sure enough the headaces have stopped……I really want to stay on the Savella its nice to have no aches….so today that’s the plan….still not a lot of energy but things are looking up for me….
God bless you all!

My Mom has Fibro. and started taking Savella she had been doing okay said she felt ok so far. She had been feeling like some thing was shocking her all over in different parts. She said that the shocks were less and gone at times. However now she is up to the 50mg tabs and now she has no energy, cranky, she got sick and vomited, & lastly she is having trouble sleeping. I don’t know if the symptoms will go away after her systom gets use to it or if she wont be able to take it any more. I was wondering has anyone else felt this way as well and if so did the side affects get better?

yes ive been suffering from fibromyalgia since the age of 13. i am 29 now. savella is the first drug that i jhave felt such tremendous results sooo quickly. i do find that it is making me very nauseous right after taking it.

ive been in pain for nine yrs ,been on savella for 3 wks and im feeling a little more alert and starting to do some things without not as much pain

Dosage? Is 5omg in the morning and 50 mg in the evening the highest you are suppose to go….sort of feel like I am not doing as well as I first was…..guess I better call my dr… is anyone taking any more than that?

I have had fibro since I was 15 but was told then it was growing pain.now I am 31 and glad the pain isn’t “in my head”. I am scared of Savella now after reading everyones side effects! I have been on cymbalta and lyrica for a year with less pain but gained 35 pounds. My doctor gave me a trial pack of savella. I can tell such a difference being off my usual meds.I hope it gets better. Maybe the weight gain was not that bad!

I’m another long-term Fibro sufferer. I was 1st diagnosed 20 years ago, but had many of the symptoms for the previous 10 years. For most of the time, we’ve used various pain-relieving drugs, some never worked at all and some helped some of the pain for awhile (6 mos. to 5 years). Cymbalta was not a good drug for me. Lyrica was immediately terrible for me. Do have the Vit. D shortage and am up to the bottom of the ‘normal’ range, but it didn’t relieve the FMS. Have been taking Savella since June-took the sample pack @ half-dose, and then gradually increased up to a full dose-about 2 months, but have received a lot of FMS pain relief after the 1st 6 weeks or so. The high BP is the worst side effect for me, and am now taking a lot of other meds (with side effects of course) to try to combat that. The vision and dizziness are concerning, the ‘hot-flashes’ and sweating, irritating. The FMS pain relief is wonderful, but find the arthritis pain and FMS ‘brain fog’ continues. My pharmacy charged $122.00 until they got Medicare to pick up a good part of it-I pay 40.00/mo. I retired a few years early and finally got medicare last year. I think it is a drug that should be given a good try-at least two months before deciding whether it will work for you or not-and if you can tolerate the side effects. For most of us FMs sufferers, side effects are the name of the game!!!

I, too, am having some weird symptoms with the Savella. I did the 2-week titration pack while coming off Cymbalta. I am at 2 1/2 weeks with Savella now. I am having severe diarrhea, weakness, dizziness, and last night, I started having trouble breathing. This morning, I feel like someone is squeezing my throat shut (not anaphylactic feeling, different). Talked to doc earlier in week and they alread knocked me down to 25mg once a day. I had no luck with Cymbalta. On it for three years and all I gained from it was 50 pounds. Tried Lyrica for 6 months…I have no memory of that six months, I was a drooling zombie. And no pain relief whatsoever from any of these, just bad side effects. Has anyone else with fibromyalgia noticed that they don’t do well with ANY medications, i.e. they don’t work the way they do for “regular” people and you have crazy side effects?

Also, I would just like to remind everyone to check possible interactions between new prescriptions and the ones you are already on. Even if the same doc prescribed them all for you. I noticed one person said they were already taking Ultram and were starting Savella. These two should not be mixed, and don’t trust the doctors to check or care. I always come home and use and interactions checker on the web before I fill my prescriptions. I’ve even had pharmacists tell me, “You can’t take these together, I can’t ethically fill this for you.” Makes my trust in docs plummet.