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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rculater on November 17, 2015, at 8:22:06
I have been taking Milnacipran in Europe brand name Ixel for 2 months currently on 50mg b.i.d
Im at that stage again where i am weighing up the pros and cons and deciding if i should lower my dose or discontinue, so here goes.
Pros I find it has a mild antidepressant effect, it is good for focus and motivation.No cognitive effects, no apathy or numbing, more energy, Fall to sleep easy, relaxed at night. no weight gain (yet) but seem hungrier.
Cons very lucid dreams and early awakening, decreased libido, penile shrinkage and ejaculation problems, Urinary hesitancy and frequency plus slow flow rate, increased pulse from 60 resting before the med to 90. Chills/tingling on head and legs intermittently. Cannot touch alcohol.
Any thoughts ? Its the cardiovascular effects that are most worrying.
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 17, 2015, at 15:53:13
In reply to Milnacipran experiences ? (savella), posted by rculater on November 17, 2015, at 8:22:06
I'm not you. AD drugs work best in more severe depressive states. If you have severe depression, then an AD is probably a must have, unless you can do intensive therapy or something. If your problems aren't as severe, or the symptoms can be managed with different drugs, then it may not be a must have.
If you taper, try to do it slowly. Is this an AD that you can lower to a maintenance dose?
Posted by former poster on November 18, 2015, at 19:21:59
In reply to Milnacipran experiences ? (savella), posted by rculater on November 17, 2015, at 8:22:06
I was on it for 2 years. I think my dose was 75mg/day. Depends what you are taking it for. Savella is a wonderful medication. I took it for depression, social anxiety and focus.
My advice is to take your morning dose as soon as you wake up, then take your evening dose no later than 3PM. This way the stimulating effect will dissipate somewhat and you'll get a good night sleep. I had amazingly deep sleep with Savella.
E.D. was a problem but I used herbal supplements that helped a lot. Worst of all was urinary hesitancy. Had to pee sometimes 5 times a night. Pumpkin seed oil helped also D-Mannose.Here's an interesting article about Savella:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijin_kyofusho
Posted by former poster on November 18, 2015, at 19:43:14
In reply to Milnacipran experiences ? (savella), posted by rculater on November 17, 2015, at 8:22:06
Forgot to mention. I had the elevated pulse too which was resolved when I took 12.5 to 25mg of Carvedilol in the morning. After my body adjusted to Savella I was able to get by without it. I actually enjoyed taking Carvedilol. It helped me relax and and if I had insomnia it worked as good or better than lunesta and other sleep aids when taken at night.
I think Savella is the only AD that will not cause any cognitive side effects and actually seems to improve cognition, energy, focus and is pro-social, similar in effect to the addictive psycho stimulants Adderall, Dextroamphetamine but without the euphoria. Savella is way under prescribed. Don't give up. It may take several months to get the full benefit. I highly recommend Savella / Ixel to patients that can't tolerate the cognitive side effects of SSRI's
Posted by rculater on November 19, 2015, at 14:46:39
In reply to Re: Milnacipran experiences ? (savella), posted by Christ_empowered on November 17, 2015, at 15:53:13
> I'm not you. AD drugs work best in more severe depressive states. If you have severe depression, then an AD is probably a must have, unless you can do intensive therapy or something. If your problems aren't as severe, or the symptoms can be managed with different drugs, then it may not be a must have.
>
> If you taper, try to do it slowly. Is this an AD that you can lower to a maintenance dose?You guessed my depression is not severe however my condition, Dysthemia, has taken its toll over the years. I do find this drug is takingt he edge off somewhat. I might go down a notch to 75mg as former poster recommends. thanks for your reply i have not been here for a while im sad this board is not as active as it once was.
Posted by rculater on November 19, 2015, at 14:49:36
In reply to Re: Milnacipran experiences ? (savella) » rculater, posted by former poster on November 18, 2015, at 19:43:14
> Forgot to mention. I had the elevated pulse too which was resolved when I took 12.5 to 25mg of Carvedilol in the morning. After my body adjusted to Savella I was able to get by without it. I actually enjoyed taking Carvedilol. It helped me relax and and if I had insomnia it worked as good or better than lunesta and other sleep aids when taken at night.
>
> I think Savella is the only AD that will not cause any cognitive side effects and actually seems to improve cognition, energy, focus and is pro-social, similar in effect to the addictive psycho stimulants Adderall, Dextroamphetamine but without the euphoria. Savella is way under prescribed. Don't give up. It may take several months to get the full benefit. I highly recommend Savella / Ixel to patients that can't tolerate the cognitive side effects of SSRI'sThanks i might try going down to 75 - 100 definatley feels too much - I will check out those links . My BP is slightly high now also i will monitor . Take care.
Posted by Meltingpot on November 21, 2015, at 8:57:13
In reply to Milnacipran experiences ? (savella), posted by rculater on November 17, 2015, at 8:22:06
I have taken this drug on top of my seroxat and from what I remember made me very drowsy all of the time and I started experiencing a strange symptom which I never had before. Couldn't look down from a high building without feeling that something was pulling me down. It seemed like some kind of vertigo.
I don't remember it adding to the effects of the Seroxat. I'm not sure what it would be like if taken on it's own.
Denise
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