Savella

[nettykins]

Dear Doctor,I was diagnosed with SLE/mixed connective tissue disease/fibromyalgia and raynauds syndrome 5 years ago. I have suffered for many years also with panic disorder,almost agorophobic and anxiety and now depression. My question to you is this, the SSRI's I have tried to help my conditions make my fibromyalgia etc..worse. I was excited about cymbalta but could not tolerate the side effects of this med although it was working on my fibro pain, anxiety etc....I also felt allergic to it, red eyes, rash,etc.. So now my shrink and rheumy are suggesting the new med Savella, to start at a very low dose which is 12.5 according to the titration pack.Its known that fibro patients are very sensitive to meds,which explains why I have had such a hard time tolerating the many I have tried the past 5 years.Its been a very frustrating road and I have been taking ativan 1ml three times a day to help my anxiety but that is no longer working and I know I have been on this benzo much to long and need to be on something to help my neurotransmitters deal with my conditions,besides it just makes me very cold nowadays shiver wise. Anyways question is what is your opinion about Savella, I have heard it works great for fibro but am kind of afraid to start it. I am excited in hopes that it will bring about some relief to my fibro symptoms but also scared that it may make my anxiety,panic worse.I realize it is a new SNRI and was in Europe for depression for 15 years and is new to the US. Also is it best to take it at night or in the daytime? I am on plaquenil 400 mil a day and dont know if it is also safe to take the two together as the plaquenil also creates anxiety. Sigh what to do ,what to do.....thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from you soon. Also interesting that I was a healthy woman until I had a complete hysterectomy 7 years ago,since then I have suffered more physical problems and emotional problems than ever before. Sigh.........:(

[babyde]

Hi, I too have been DX with the same as you and also have tried many SSRI's and have not been able to tolerate. I didn't know that people with Fibro have a sensativity to meds. No wonder I have been gone through so many meds, my doctors never told me this. I ask my Rhuemy if I could try Sevella, he said NO because it messes with your blood pressure and he refused to put me on it even with the knowlegde that we have tried everything else. I am on Cellcept 2000 mg a day for SLE. It has worked better than Plaquenil or Methotrexate.
I have gotten to know the difference between Fibro pain and SLE pain and MCTD pain, Raynaulds and RA pain. Most of them are all the same but Fibro is different. I have had these awful diseases for 2.5 years and cannot work anymore. I am on SSDI. My life has totally changed and I am not active anymore because of the pain.
Hope you find something that works for you.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Sorry, I am wrong person to give advice in this particular area.  Before you take any new drug, however, be sure to look up online for adverse effects and counter-indications.