![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:36:45
I have depression and anxiety.I was wondering since Savella has been introduced in the US or will be shortly,wouldn't it be very BAD for anxiety since it affects norepinephrine so powerfully.SSRIs used to work great for me,they no longer work.
Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2009, at 12:04:48
In reply to Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:36:45
Odon when googling savella said recently approved for fibromyalgia. Hopefully here is the link to official website. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on May 2, 2009, at 19:10:18
In reply to Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:36:45
In a short 2 week experience on a very low dose of Savella I got from overseas, it increased the entire spectrum of anxieties (phobias, obsessional worries, fears, mountains out of molehills, etc) for about 3 days. Just as might be expected with a norepinephrine boost. From day 3 through 7 it got more tolerable. By the end of 2 weeks there was very good peace, excellent sleep, interest and motivation was on the rise, and a pronounced anti-anhedonia effect was beginning.
After failing ECT, this med actually worked. Pretty good for any med to do that.
Anyway, I found it excellent for anxiety except for the early days where it was made worse.
Posted by odon on May 3, 2009, at 8:11:58
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by bleauberry on May 2, 2009, at 19:10:18
Bleauberry,if I may ask,since it was effective for you why did you stop taking it?
Posted by bleauberry on May 3, 2009, at 17:21:51
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by odon on May 3, 2009, at 8:11:58
> Bleauberry,if I may ask,since it was effective for you why did you stop taking it?
The norepinephrine effect had some phsycial side effects that were too much for me. One of the uncommon side effects, mostly with men, is urinary hesitancy, urgency, and frequency. That was very bad, almost complete urinary stoppage. Years ago I had surgery on wrist tendonitis and it has been 100% cured. But with Savella my fingers on that hand begin to tingle and my wrist gets that tendonitis pain again. All I can figure is that the norepinephrine boost is constricting physical things, tightening things.
I am contemplating retrying it at ultra low doses and just giving it a long time to see if those side effects adjust themselves. I imagine they should, it's just rough during the weeks while waiting and wondering.
Good med though. But like any other, it needs some patience to get through any weirdness in the early days or weeks.
Posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 23:10:49
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety? » odon, posted by bleauberry on May 3, 2009, at 17:21:51
> > Bleauberry,if I may ask,since it was effective for you why did you stop taking it?
>
> The norepinephrine effect had some phsycial side effects that were too much for me. One of the uncommon side effects, mostly with men, is urinary hesitancy, urgency, and frequency. That was very bad, almost complete urinary stoppage. Years ago I had surgery on wrist tendonitis and it has been 100% cured. But with Savella my fingers on that hand begin to tingle and my wrist gets that tendonitis pain again. All I can figure is that the norepinephrine boost is constricting physical things, tightening things.
>
> I am contemplating retrying it at ultra low doses and just giving it a long time to see if those side effects adjust themselves. I imagine they should, it's just rough during the weeks while waiting and wondering.
>
> Good med though. But like any other, it needs some patience to get through any weirdness in the early days or weeks.
>
>
how about concomitant use with a peripheral alpha-blocker?-d/r
Posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 14:09:52
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 23:10:49
Is Ixel safe to combine with an ssri.In my case ssris,specifically Paxil worked great for years than stopped working.I was wondering if something like Ixel can kickstart the ssri into working again.
Posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2009, at 18:10:52
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 14:09:52
> Is Ixel safe to combine with an ssri.In my case ssris,specifically Paxil worked great for years than stopped working.I was wondering if something like Ixel can kickstart the ssri into working again.
In Japan where Ixel is a top antidepressant, it is combined with either Paxil or Luvox.
Posted by hopefullynow on June 8, 2009, at 13:58:50
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by bleauberry on May 4, 2009, at 18:10:52
I just begun the 3rd attempt to give milnacipran a fair chance.As Bleauberry advised, for those who can't tolerate the usual 50-100 mg/day dose, this time I started about 5-6 mg two times daily.So far its day 4 and the very high-high anxiety and impending doom was alleviated.These past days were hell; sweating constatly, panic-like attacks, nausea, hard to concentrate, nervousness, everything I said sounded stupid, like an extreme shyness.
I'm taking milnacipran for GAD, anhedonia and fibro due to an disrupted HPA axis.
I hope that this time I'll stand all that weird side effects and finally I will re-regulate my HPA axis.I dont know if in theory an noradrenergic drug like Ixel it's supposed to be good for GAD-like anxiety and disrupted HPA axis.I can guarantee that for my fibromyalgia it works just fine, from the first dose my backpain was alleviated.Oh man, I feel so stupid after these days,I barely can find my words.Stupid scared and painless.
Posted by KB1 on July 4, 2009, at 0:04:31
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by hopefullynow on June 8, 2009, at 13:58:50
Hello, I was wondering if anyone has taken the Ixel brand of milnacipran (made in France) and then changed over to the Savella brand?(newly available in the usa)...
I took the Ixel brand for approx 4 months (I ordered it through a mail order pharmacy starting in Jan 09 while waiting for the Savella brand to arrive in the american pharmacies after it was approved by the FDA) From the first week the Ixel/french brand worked extremely well for me with no side effects and I was happy that the drug had been approved for use in this country...I then switched to the Savella (usa brand) when it finally became available in pharmacies here expecting it to be very similar to the French manufactured drug-however I have surprisingly experienced many negative side effects including having all my fibro pain come back worse than before, extreme dizzyness, freezing hands and feet, and the worst side effect of all of feeling increasingly depressed....I thought at first the pharmacy must have given me the wrong drug! I dont understand how the same exact drug could have such different effects just due to the manufacturing company?...
I would love to know if anyone else has gone from taking the french brand to the usa one?
Kind regards,
Kate
Posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2009, at 0:19:50
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by KB1 on July 4, 2009, at 0:04:31
Kate didn't know it was savella nor that was for fibo as know someone who wants to take Ixel. Phillipa
Posted by ihatedrugs on July 4, 2009, at 23:47:37
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by KB1 on July 4, 2009, at 0:04:31
> Hello, I was wondering if anyone has taken the Ixel brand of milnacipran (made in France) and then changed over to the Savella brand?(newly available in the usa)...
> I took the Ixel brand for approx 4 months (I ordered it through a mail order pharmacy starting in Jan 09 while waiting for the Savella brand to arrive in the american pharmacies after it was approved by the FDA) From the first week the Ixel/french brand worked extremely well for me with no side effects and I was happy that the drug had been approved for use in this country...I then switched to the Savella (usa brand) when it finally became available in pharmacies here expecting it to be very similar to the French manufactured drug-however I have surprisingly experienced many negative side effects including having all my fibro pain come back worse than before, extreme dizzyness, freezing hands and feet, and the worst side effect of all of feeling increasingly depressed....I thought at first the pharmacy must have given me the wrong drug! I dont understand how the same exact drug could have such different effects just due to the manufacturing company?...
> I would love to know if anyone else has gone from taking the french brand to the usa one?
> Kind regards,
> Kate
>
>
I am currently taking Savella for MDD and the jury is still out. I have noticed increased insomnia, some anxiety, mood swings but more energy as days go by. I am in my third week so I think is too early to tell if it'll work. I have never taken Ixel but it seems strange that there is such a drastic difference between both medications.
Best of luck.
Posted by Meltingpot on July 10, 2009, at 13:58:48
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by KB1 on July 4, 2009, at 0:04:31
Hi,
Sorry I can't comment on Milnacipran but it is strange and very worrying.
Can you not go back to the Ixel one just to be sure. You can probably purchase it on line. It would be interesting to know.
I ordered wellbutrin online and had none of the side affects other people complain of so I was wondering myself if I got the real deal.
Denise
Posted by Tony P on July 10, 2009, at 22:51:51
In reply to Re: Savella(Ixel,Milnacipran) for anxiety?, posted by KB1 on July 4, 2009, at 0:04:31
> Hello, I was wondering if anyone has taken the Ixel brand of milnacipran (made in France) and then changed over to the Savella brand?(newly available in the usa)...
> I took the Ixel brand for approx 4 months (I ordered it through a mail order pharmacy starting in Jan 09 while waiting for the Savella brand to arrive in the american pharmacies after it was approved by the FDA) From the first week the Ixel/french brand worked extremely well for me with no side effects and I was happy that the drug had been approved for use in this country...I then switched to the Savella (usa brand) when it finally became available in pharmacies here expecting it to be very similar to the French manufactured drug-however I have surprisingly experienced many negative side effects including having all my fibro pain come back worse than before, extreme dizzyness, freezing hands and feet, and the worst side effect of all of feeling increasingly depressed....I thought at first the pharmacy must have given me the wrong drug! I dont understand how the same exact drug could have such different effects just due to the manufacturing company?...
> I would love to know if anyone else has gone from taking the french brand to the usa one?
> Kind regards,
> Kate
=========================================
I haven't taken either version myself, but putting my biochemist's hat on: .... ;-)Celexa & Lexapro differ only in that Celexa is a mixture of 2 different forms (stereoisomers, for the technically-mided), while Lexapro is the pure form of the most active of the pair. They were like night and day for me. My pdoc said the "bad" half of Celexa had 1% of the antidepressant effect and 99% of the side effects.
Soooo -- just to speculate, what if the US manufacturer is being less careful to separate possible isomers?? It's certainly possible.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.