Savella medicine: Uses, indications and notes when using

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Savella or milnacipran is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and is indicated for the treatment of depression and muscle pain. The mechanism of action of milnacipran exhibits a somewhat unique feature compared with other SNRIs of inducing a relatively balanced reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and noradrenaline, thereby minimizing pain signals in these pathways. Inhibitory pain diminishes in the brain and spinal cord.

1.Uses and indications for the use of savella

Milnacipran or savella is used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting tissues. This medication is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters), which belong to the class of antidepressants.

2. How to use Savella

Read the medication guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using milnacipran and each time you are prescribed this medicine. Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually 2 times a day or as directed by your doctor.
If you suddenly stop using this medicine, you may have withdrawal symptoms (such as mood swings, headache, fatigue, sleep changes, brief feeling like an electric shock). To help prevent withdrawal, your doctor may reduce your dose slowly. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur if you have been using milnacipran for a long time or in high doses.

3.Saver side effects

Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, dizziness, increased sweating, headache or hot flashes (face flushing) may occur. Meanwhile, there are also many people who use this drug without serious side effects.
This medicine may increase your blood pressure. Therefore, it is important to know how to regularly measure your blood pressure at home and let your doctor know if the value is above the normal range.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: fast/pounding heart, changes in sexual ability, decreased interest in sex, painful/difficulty urinating towels, convulsions, yellow eyes/skin, dark urine, severe/abdominal pain, black/bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, easy bruising/bleeding.

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: eye pain/swelling/redness, enlarged pupils, vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around you) lights at night, blurred vision).
This medicine can increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. This effect is more likely to occur if taken with other drugs that increase serotonin.

4.Measures to prevent side effects of the drug savella

Before taking milnacipran, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or levomilnacipran; or if you have any other allergies.
If your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, alcohol use, use of antidepressants, personal or family history of glaucoma, neurological disorders, heart disease vascular, gastrointestinal or urinary tract disorders.
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Older adults may be more at risk of mineral imbalance (low blood sodium) when using this medicine, especially if they are also taking a diuretic with this medicine.
During pregnancy, discuss the risks to the mother and fetus compared with and the possible benefits of taking the drug. At the same time, this drug is also excreted into breast milk. Therefore, care should be taken in breastfeeding the infant during treatment with this drug.

5.Drug interactions

Drugs that may interact with this drug include diuretics such as furosemide, drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (such as anticoagulants such as warfarin/heparin, antiplatelet drugs including clopidogrel). In addition, MAO inhibitors should not be taken with this medicine because it increases the risk of serious drug interactions, which may include death.
Double-check all prescription and non-prescription drug labels as many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) that may increase the risk of bleeding if used with this medicine. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at doses of 81-325 milligrams per day).
In summary, the antidepressant milnacipran or savella is widely recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia. The available evidence suggests that milnacipran 100 mg or 200 mg is effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain, providing moderate pain relief. To do so, patients need to stick to the prescribed dose, as the potential for increased side effects is significantly greater with higher doses.

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Article reference source: webmd.com