• My new Pain Specialist changed my medication to Savella. Just wondering if anyone else is taking this new drug. I was on Effexor (10yrs I might add... wild ride tapering off to chg to Savella) for anxiety. This new drug is geared for helping with nerve pain. Started with a 14 day uptake program and now PM has increased me to 200mg a day along with my 600 mg of Lyrica. I am having some side effects: bad headaches and very nauseas. Just curious... If anyone could shed some light on this drug. Thanks for your help.

I took this drug for almost 2 months and asked to be taken off it because of extremely aggressive behavior/thoughts. I thought I was going to wind up like the lady that drowned her 6 kids in her bathtub. Then I finally read the insert pamphlet that came with the drug - there is a big, red box warning about aggressive or suicidal behavior and thoughts. Worst drug ever. And actually, I would have tried to find a way to live with the aggression IF there was any significant pain relief, and there wasn't. I think it's a weaker version of Lyrica. They took me off my Cymbalta, which WAS doing something beneficial for me, since it was contraindicated with Savella since they both are SNRI type drugs - basically antidepressants. My advice - STAY AWAY

Hi there
From what I have read 200mg is pretty high a dose, try taking it with a little food it may help your nausia and headaches, if that dosn't help you may have to ask doc to decrease it a little. Mostly I have heard of 100 to 150 perscribed.

Savella is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), similar to some drugs used for the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders. In this instance it is used for nerve pain and infact has been recently designated for the management of fibromyalgia.

The FDA has a black box suicide warning out for this drug and with Lyrica as well so please watch your mood swings they can change very fast for the worst, be aware that suicidal thoughts can be caused by these drugs (it should help to be aware of what is happening I would think).

I would advise you tell someone close to you as well, and don't assume that because you have been on lyrica for so long you are imune to any effect it can have, the percentage of people may be small but it happens to people who have been on the drugs for awhile... [I know this personaly]

Now I supose you must be on 100mg twice a day?
If the nastyness continues ask your doctor to decrease to what? 75 mg twice a day? and hopefully this won't alter your pain levels too much..
Then if it's ok over awhile increase the nite dose and see what happens.. if thats what you and yr doc want.

Thats all I got for now AJ good luck, I look forward to more chats.
Sandra

Thanks so much for the info... I have notice intense mood swings. One minute super chatty and happy then the next minute sharp bite your head off. I also cry at the drop of the hat. None of this is normal for me. Maybe my body is still looking for my Effexor?? Could that be adding to the mood swings - Who know!

I too am wondering if I should be taking such a high dose of Savella (100 mg 2x a day) along with the Lyrica (200 mg 3x a day). I decided the other day to only take 50mg in the AM with my Lyrica dose, 50mg with my Midday dose of Lyrica and then 100mg at night (this way I sleep through the yucky stuff). It has helped a little with the side effects -
I think. I haven't notice that much of a difference in the pain and my leg/foot is still sub-zero.

I will let my husband and son know about the Black Box warning so they can help keep an eye on things too. They are both real good at being able to tell what's going on with me.

Right now I am in the middle of a spinal stimulator trial so I am having all kinds of stuff going on. I get the leads out on Monday so that will be loads of fun! Jury is still out on if it will work.

UGH... I really hate this darn CRPS!!!!