What is Savella?
Savella is a prescription medicine used to treat fibromyalgia. For the treatment of fibromyalgia, Savella (milnacipran) is the first-choice medication. You can take Savella (milnacipran) with or without food. You must take it according to a strict schedule, which can be perplexing in the first month.
Savella Uses
It is used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissue support. This medicine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters).
- Read your pharmacist's Medication Guide before you start using milnacipran and every time you get a refill. Consult your doctor.
- Take this medicine orally with or without food, usually 2 times a day or as directed by your doctor. If you have nausea, it may help you to take this medicine with your food.
- The dosage is based on your health condition, medical history, and response to your treatment.
- Your doctor may prescribe you a low dose to reduce your risk of side effects and gradually will increase your dose.
- If you suddenly stop using this medicine, you might have symptoms of withdrawal (such as mood swings, headache, tiredness, sleep changes, brief feelings similar to electric shock). Your doctor might lower your dosages slowly to help prevent withdrawal. Withdrawal is more likely if you have been using milnacipran for a long time or at high doses.
Side Effects:
Some of the common side effects of saroglitazar are:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping
- Hot flush
- Increased sweating
- Vomiting
- Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Heart rate increased
- Dry mouth
- High blood pressure
- Hypertension
- Irritation
- Rashes
- Vomit
- Lightheadedness
Precautions:
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to savella (milnacipran), or to levomilnacipran, or if you have any other allergies before taking milnacipran. This product might have some inactive ingredients or substances that might cause serious allergic reactions or other problems.
- Before using this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history such as: kidney disease, liver disease, personal or family history of glaucoma, personal or family history of psychiatric disorders (such as bipolar or manic-depressive disorder), personal or family history of suicide attempts, high blood pressure, heart problems.
- Older adults may be at higher risk of mineral imbalance (low sodium levels in the blood) while taking this medicine, especially if they are also taking water pills (diuretics) with this medicine.
- This medicine is passed on to breast milk. Before breastfeeding, consult your doctor.
Interactions:
Using Savella with other drugs can make you sleepy and can make this effect worse. Ask your doctor before taking opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or an anxiety or seizure medication.
Other medications might interact with milnacipran, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and some herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicines you are taking.
Overdose
If you had taken an overdose of a medication accidentally then talk with your doctor immediately to avoid any emergency. Symptoms of a medication can be dizziness, drowsiness, headache and vomiting.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take any of the doses, take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next pill.
Storage:
Store this medicine far away from light, heat, and moisture and keep it at room temperature. Keep out of the bathroom. It should be kept away from kids. Unless directed, don’t flush or spill drugs down the toilet or into the drainage system. When this has expired or is no longer required, properly dispose of it.
Savella vs Cymbalta
Savella |
Cymbalta |
---|---|
Savella treats fibromyalgia. | Cymbalta Improves mood and relieves certain types of pain. |
It is used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissue support. | Cymbalta is used for treating depression, anxiety, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, chronic muscle pain, urinary incontinence (women) |
Since Savella (milnacipran) is only available as a brand name, the copay can be very high. | Available as a generic. |