savella

Discuss different Pain Management Options; Medication options including side effects and Worldwide variances in names etc.
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Grammy
Posts: 126
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:53 pm

savella

Post by Grammy »

Have any of you taken the drug savella and if so how are you doing with it in regards to fibro pain and the pain from pne
Missingmylife42
Posts: 101
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:30 am

Re: savella

Post by Missingmylife42 »

Hi I was just put on this ontop of everything else I am on. Is it helping you.
angiemcs
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:07 pm

Re: savella

Post by angiemcs »

I have been taking Savella for a few months now. The plan,after seeing a pain specialist, was for me to start on Savella, then go on Topamax and end with Nucynta, all 3. So I started with Savella at very low doses, 12.5 per day for two weeks, then upped to 12.5 twice a day for a couple of weeks, each time adding this minimum dosage in the mornings. I am very sensitive to meds and my doctor has such faith in this med that he wants me to take it very slowly. Still can't avoid side effects, mainly heavy sweating, irritable mood swings, sleep problems (which cause me to take something for that), no nausea or GI effects though. Some oF these symptoms have tapered off, but as I increased to the level of 37.5 in the mornings and 25 at dinner, I found as the day progressed that I could not urinate.Everything froze up, no response from my pelvic floor muscles.With PN, I have always had problems with slow and hesitant urination, but this was dramatically different. I understand this is another possible side effect. I immediately went down on the dosage and called my doctor. Am now taking something to counteraact this problem and it is helping. Or is it the lower dosage of Savella? I will try to slowly go back up again and we shall see. The doctor is shooting for 100 mg/day. After 3 1/2 years of this, i have been through all kinds of doctors, PT, meds, nothing helps. Will try Savella as a last resort, medication-wise. Sometimes the side effects of a medication just add to the lack of quality of life, with no help. Would be interested in hearing from anyone else out there about their experience with this drug. Good luck to all of us!
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Cora
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:14 am
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Re: savella

Post by Cora »

wrote a post and lost it. So hear goes again. Hi to old friends. It's Cora, took an LOA for a bit. Saw the discussion on Savella and wanted to comment. My neurologist talked about Savella with me but we decided to stay on the Cymbalta. She says she seems patients having significant side effects from the Savella and is rather cautious about prescribing it. Just wanted to add this to the thread .

Cora
Onset PN/PFD/centralized pain in Oct 06 after years of athletics,nursing career and dog training. PT for two years with improvement, now go for tune-ups and pain management. Stopped Cymbalta, was on M.S. Contin, then Kadian, and briefly Methadone for pain management, now off those meds and pain is well managed with Buprenorphine. Followed my pain management specialist.
Faith
Posts: 697
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:15 pm

Re: savella

Post by Faith »

Welcome back Cora. I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing and how your recent appointment went with the pain management doctor. I just started Cymbalta so I am hoping it will help with my "fibromyalgia" type symptoms as things seem to be getting progressively worse.
-11/08 vulvodynia began around conception of first & only pregnancy
-3/10 sacral/sitting pain began after SIJD manipulation
-Progressive widespread pain- central sensitization
-PT, meds, injections, botox, ESWT = debilitated.
-5/12 Potter MRI - scarring of left ST, coccygeous & posterior alcock
-12/12 - left FAI/labral hip tear surgery
2014-2019 managed w/ gabapentin, massage, and lifestyle mod
2020 - big flare up
www.thepurposeofpain.blogspot.com
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Karyn
Posts: 1655
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:59 pm
Location: Lowell, MA

Re: savella

Post by Karyn »

angiemcs wrote:Sometimes the side effects of a medication just add to the lack of quality of life, with no help.
I agree!
I hope you're able to find something that helps you, Ang!
Warm regards,
Karyn
Ultra Sound in 03/08 showed severely retroverted, detaching uterus with mulitple fibroids and ovarian cysts.
Pressure and pain in lower abdomen and groin area was unspeakable and devastating.
Total lap hysterectomy in 06/08, but damage was already done.
EMG testing in NH in 04/10 - bilateral PN and Ilioinguals
3T MRI at HSS, NY in 09/10
Bilateral TG surgery with Dr. Conway on 03/29/11. Bilat ilioinguinal & iliohypogastric neurectomy 03/12. TCD surgery 04/14.
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Cora
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:14 am
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Re: savella

Post by Cora »

Thanks for asking Fatih, I had a really good appointment, two now with my pain dr. What was wonderful is that she really addressed the whole "quality of life" scenario, and was motivated to read up on PN and learn more about pelvic pain. I felt tremendous relief to have an ally and communication now between all my providers- finally feel like I have a "team" in place. The Embeda is working pretty well, and I know we'll have to tweak the dose a bit. But again, I have support now that was lacking, and with anything chronic, the lack of support just doesn't bode well. Just trying to take things day to day- no magic wand available right now.
Cora
Onset PN/PFD/centralized pain in Oct 06 after years of athletics,nursing career and dog training. PT for two years with improvement, now go for tune-ups and pain management. Stopped Cymbalta, was on M.S. Contin, then Kadian, and briefly Methadone for pain management, now off those meds and pain is well managed with Buprenorphine. Followed my pain management specialist.
JRS
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:54 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: savella

Post by JRS »

Grammy,

I recently was given Savella to try after other failures. Unfortunately, Savella at the lowest dose 12.5mg created uncontrollable crying. After two days...I had to stop. Hang in there.
Symptoms started 7/2010 following Cellulitis infection
Hysterectomy 11/08 due to fibroids/4 child births
Rt Leg Obturator & Piriformis Pain
Sacral Pain
Current Medications: Lidocaine 5% Patch, Baclofen,Tramadol, Xanax
Topical Amitriptyline/Gabapentin Compound as I am not tolerating systemic treatment
Under Pain Management Care, Seeing a PN therapist (8 visits to date)
PN Block via CT Guide (3/11)
(2) ESI Trigger Point Injections (4/22/11)
angiemcs
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:07 pm

Re: savella

Post by angiemcs »

I posted earlier about Savella. Am now almost off of it, very slow decrease over weeks.I am actually taking half a 12.5 every morning. This drug did nothing to help me, just very unpleasant side effects, sweating, headaches, crying, finally a complete inability to urinate. That was the last straw. Going off has caused some of the same above side effects and more mood swings, but I am fed up with all the meds I have been on. I don't need all those side effects in addition to the ongoing pain.Nothing has helped me,doctor, various PTS, i am very very scared of surgery route. So, back to this ongoing struggle with pain.
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