Oppinions on Savella?

lonecoaster · 07-11-2012, 10:02 PM

I didn't have much success with lyrica. My doctor prescribed savella, been reading old posts and looking on-line for info. Not sure I like the side effect possibilities. Hoping folks here would'nt mind sharing their experiences with this drug. Thanks

hlh · 07-11-2012, 11:56 PM

Mom took it for migraines. No side effects, but she tolerated meds well. Didn't help.

If I were you, for neuropathic pain I would try neurontin (gabapentin) and make sure they increase the dose as high as it can go without causing bad side effects. I would try other better proven meds like amitriptyline or cymbalta or Effexor before moving to something as "new" as Savella.

lonecoaster · 07-12-2012, 09:08 AM

Started with neurontin, when shocks started they tried lyrica. Didn't seem to be doing anything but giving me blurry vision so I stopped taking anything for about 18 months, but the shocks won. So I tried amitriptyline, made me feel like yuk, felt like I didn't start waking up till about noon, and didn't touch the shocks. So they decided to try lyrica again at a higher dose, with tramadol. wasn't ready for tramadol yet so I left it in the medicine box. The lyrica seemed to be working for the shocks at the higher dose. Problem I had was my vision was going south (blurred). I just happened to have my yearly V.A. check-up. Doctor there told me to get off the lyrica as soon as I could. When I got down to one lyrica a day the shocks started back. I took two tramadol like someone here recommended and tada, an hr later the shocks subsided.
I told my regular doc. this yesterday. She said I should continue the tramadol, but would like to start me on the savella. I think she felt the next option to be the cymbalta. I don't know, tramadol does the job for the most part(still feel the current and the occasional zap), but I have to admit I felt better and had more energy on the lyrica. I guess I'm scared to try this savella. Sorry for the monster post.

hlh · 07-12-2012, 09:49 AM

Well, I wouldn't worry so much. I think Savella is pretty mild. Still surprised your doc is trying it before Cymbalta though. The good thing is that you have already seen that these medicines CAN work for you and make the shocks decrease, you just have to find the one with few side effects.

Always make sure you give at least a week or two before you give up if the side effects aren't that bad. Some side effects decrease over time. Always increase doses slowly... that decreases side effects too.

I think you'll find something. Hang in there.

lonecoaster · 07-12-2012, 10:25 AM

Thanks hlh

I pick-up my starter pack of savella today, I'll give it a try.

thehipcrip · 07-12-2012, 09:37 PM

@lonecoaster, what a drag the Lyrica worked so well for everything except your vision. Good luck with the Savella -- hope you can keep from being zapped and see straight at the same time!

arndog · 07-13-2012, 12:12 AM

I took amitriptyline (Elavil) for 8 years with success. Were you taking 10 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg? Elavil can have beneficial effects even at 10 mg at night. Secondly, I found I had to take it at 6pm and not at 10 pm when I go to sleep so I wouldn't have the 'zombie effect' in the am. Maybe try it at 10 mg and take it early in the night. One more choice in your armamentarium to combat NP.

lonecoaster · 07-25-2012, 07:42 PM

Thanks again everyone. Well it took a while for the pharmacy to get the Savella, not something they had on hand. Then there was a discrepancy between my doctor's mg's being less than that of the starter pack. Went to pick it up and found out the insurance co. would not pay for them. Left a message with nurse and the doctor changed the script to cymbalta. Been reading alot old posts on the stuff...(yikes!)
Hipcrip, I'm looking into the whole vision deal, maybe its something that takes years to blind you, or maybe... I don't know but I'd rather be back on the lyrica. I'm taking Tramadol now and it seems to knock down the shocks. It also seems to numb my legs a bit, more than normal numb. I feel pretty drained. Arndog I'm starting to see the game now. The Elavil put me out too sound. If I'm not flip-flopping at night my back can't take one position for to long. Plus I felt that zombie effect, but I will look at the dose I was taking cut it in half and try again. The tramadol keeps me up, but being awake without the shocks is better than awake with them. It also has some unfortunate sexual side effect's, but that's another thread. Well and acouple of other not so great side effects. Be Well

07-11-2012, 10:02 PM	#1
lonecoaster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 894	Oppinions on Savella? I didn't have much success with lyrica. My doctor prescribed savella, been reading old posts and looking on-line for info. Not sure I like the side effect possibilities. Hoping folks here would'nt mind sharing their experiences with this drug. Thanks

07-12-2012, 09:37 PM	#6
thehipcrip Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: US Virgin Islands Posts: 2,665	@lonecoaster, what a drag the Lyrica worked so well for everything except your vision. Good luck with the Savella -- hope you can keep from being zapped and see straight at the same time! __________________ It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience. ~Julius Caesar

07-25-2012, 07:42 PM	#8
lonecoaster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 894	Thanks again everyone. Well it took a while for the pharmacy to get the Savella, not something they had on hand. Then there was a discrepancy between my doctor's mg's being less than that of the starter pack. Went to pick it up and found out the insurance co. would not pay for them. Left a message with nurse and the doctor changed the script to cymbalta. Been reading alot old posts on the stuff...(yikes!) Hipcrip, I'm looking into the whole vision deal, maybe its something that takes years to blind you, or maybe... I don't know but I'd rather be back on the lyrica. I'm taking Tramadol now and it seems to knock down the shocks. It also seems to numb my legs a bit, more than normal numb. I feel pretty drained. Arndog I'm starting to see the game now. The Elavil put me out too sound. If I'm not flip-flopping at night my back can't take one position for to long. Plus I felt that zombie effect, but I will look at the dose I was taking cut it in half and try again. The tramadol keeps me up, but being awake without the shocks is better than awake with them. It also has some unfortunate sexual side effect's, but that's another thread. Well and acouple of other not so great side effects. Be Well Last edited by lonecoaster; 07-25-2012 at 07:48 PM. Reason: forgot to mention butt explosions and headaches

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07-11-2012, 11:56 PM	#2
hlh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: US Posts: 1,041	Mom took it for migraines. No side effects, but she tolerated meds well. Didn't help. If I were you, for neuropathic pain I would try neurontin (gabapentin) and make sure they increase the dose as high as it can go without causing bad side effects. I would try other better proven meds like amitriptyline or cymbalta or Effexor before moving to something as "new" as Savella.

07-12-2012, 09:08 AM	#3
lonecoaster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 894	Started with neurontin, when shocks started they tried lyrica. Didn't seem to be doing anything but giving me blurry vision so I stopped taking anything for about 18 months, but the shocks won. So I tried amitriptyline, made me feel like yuk, felt like I didn't start waking up till about noon, and didn't touch the shocks. So they decided to try lyrica again at a higher dose, with tramadol. wasn't ready for tramadol yet so I left it in the medicine box. The lyrica seemed to be working for the shocks at the higher dose. Problem I had was my vision was going south (blurred). I just happened to have my yearly V.A. check-up. Doctor there told me to get off the lyrica as soon as I could. When I got down to one lyrica a day the shocks started back. I took two tramadol like someone here recommended and tada, an hr later the shocks subsided. I told my regular doc. this yesterday. She said I should continue the tramadol, but would like to start me on the savella. I think she felt the next option to be the cymbalta. I don't know, tramadol does the job for the most part(still feel the current and the occasional zap), but I have to admit I felt better and had more energy on the lyrica. I guess I'm scared to try this savella. Sorry for the monster post.

07-12-2012, 09:49 AM	#4
hlh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: US Posts: 1,041	Well, I wouldn't worry so much. I think Savella is pretty mild. Still surprised your doc is trying it before Cymbalta though. The good thing is that you have already seen that these medicines CAN work for you and make the shocks decrease, you just have to find the one with few side effects. Always make sure you give at least a week or two before you give up if the side effects aren't that bad. Some side effects decrease over time. Always increase doses slowly... that decreases side effects too. I think you'll find something. Hang in there.

07-12-2012, 10:25 AM	#5
lonecoaster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 894	Thanks hlh I pick-up my starter pack of savella today, I'll give it a try.

07-13-2012, 12:12 AM	#7
arndog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NV Posts: 2,866	I took amitriptyline (Elavil) for 8 years with success. Were you taking 10 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg? Elavil can have beneficial effects even at 10 mg at night. Secondly, I found I had to take it at 6pm and not at 10 pm when I go to sleep so I wouldn't have the 'zombie effect' in the am. Maybe try it at 10 mg and take it early in the night. One more choice in your armamentarium to combat NP.