Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella. Newly Diagnosed Help!

[New2fibro11]

Hi.  My name is Rachel and I am 33.  I have been diagnosed within the past month with fibromyalgia... Well... They cannot find anything else wrong so this is what I have been told that I have. From what reading I have done since I feel that it is the correct diagnosis for me.  I suffer from SEVERE fatigue, muscle and joint pain, insomnia, depression, and irritability.  I am to have a follow up appointment this week to discuss treatment options.  My rheumo. has offered/recommended the following:  Savella, Cymbalta, or Lyrica.  I need some honest feedback from those with Fibro. that have tried these different treatments and which ones worked for you and which ones had extreme side effects, or did not help.  Currently I am on Prozac, muscle relaxors (which don't help), and Tramadol (which also doesn't help).  The only med that has worked for me so far has unfortunatley been narcotic medication.  Can someone please offer some advice so I don't go into this appointment blind.  I do not want anything that is going to cause me to be sedated even more than I already am...

[Losam]

I've taken it all!  I was diagnosed 8 years able. The protocol that we finally found to work for me is using both Cymbalta (once a day) and Savella (twice a day).  This combo has given me my life back.  There are still some bad days, but nothing like I was.  I was even able to go back to work full time!  Good luck to you!

[path660002]

I've had FM for many years. I've tried all of the regular drugs like gaba, quetiapine as well as muscle relaxers. Those I can take for help because the side effects aren't very noticeable. They gave me lyrica and I loved the way it made me feel for the first few weeks until I hit full dosage. Then it swelled my feet and ankles up like clubs and turned them dark purple. My point is if you are one of those people who have problems with side effects be very careful and pay attention to your body when you try those other drugs the Dr is telling you about. Here's another major secret: Learn to live with it and you'll gain the knowledge to know how you feel at your best and your worst. Let your mind be an important part of your treatment.

[CCURENO]

Check your Thyroid!!!
Lyrica is the devil.  Been on it 7 yrs.  Trying to slowly wean off this poison.  Get on Lyrica Survivors Facebook page!!!
Very dangerous drug.  Horrible side effects.

[Nat35smokey]

Totally agree with you I came of lyrica it's definitely the devil I'm on oxycontin baclofen paracetamol celexa and pitzifen for migraines and that's my life line

[xzombylvrx]

I'm on Gabapentine and it works great for me. I was on Cymbalta 120 mg for years and I have to warn you that, that medication is horrible!!!! It took me already being sick to be able to finally get off of it. If you look up the withdrawals on Cymbalta you will find many people who compare the withdrawals to Heroin withdrawals. I personally can't relate to that but I was sick for two weeks and couldn't get out of bed except to throw up. My mood was constantly fluctuating aswell. Please becareful and best of luck finding a medication that works for you!

P.S. Everyone is different and each medication reacts differently to each individual. I personally have no reaction to Vicodine (not pain wise or any other way, it's like I didn't even take it) for instance but my mom has no pain on it and passes out.

[rlsFMS]

Hi,
Sorry you have all that you do; but you're not alone. I've taken Gab; awful side-effects. Lyrica, well, I was on that for quite some time, they kept upping the dosage, but it really  did not help. I am currently on Cymbalta, 90mg; which I have to take in 2 pills (60 & 30) because they don't make a 90mg.

Anyway, the Cymbalta doesn't really seem to help all that much either... Now, they said I should take Lyrica AND Cymbalta together. I haven't had the script filled yet, so I don't know how that will be, but, I have heard that it helps some.

I was also on Lexapro for a long, long time. Now that I am not, I am at least, a little, more "connected". - It seemed to keep me in a deeper fog than just the fibro.

[Totie]

It is hard to say how you will react to any of those medications. For many it is a "trial & error". I used both Gab & Lyrica, but I retained to much fluid in the ankles so dr. took me off of them. For me I just use OTC medications when I need to.