so lets start off with the fact that i got to my apt at like 1020am, only for them to tell me they couldn't see me because the correct doctors name was not on my medical card.... HELL TO THE NO!
I just took the bus from Denison, down W.25th, past the west side market, and not for you to send me home! EF that....
So, the lady says she will call and see if she can fix it for me... then says she tried, and couldn't, said i need to call the Dr on the card and make an apt. NOPE...
I call Wellcare, and they fix it within like, ohhh, 5 minutes! Pissed me off...
OK, so anyways, i go into the Doctors, tell them what all has been going on... numbness, tingling, dizzy spells, blurry vision, weakness in my muscles... she says it does go along with the fibromyalgia, but sent blood test out for Thyroid, blood sugar, cholesterol, and liver and kidney tests. I am really hoping that everything comes back OK, but I'm due back in two weeks for a check up on the medication she started me on anyways...
New medication? Savella (milnacipran HCI) Tablets - lets find more about this little drug, shall we?
The following is from WebMD.com
What Is Savella?
Savella is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It is similar to drugs used to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders. In January 2009, the FDA approved Savella to help manage fibromyalgia in adults. Available by prescription, it is the first drug introduced just for this purpose. Previous drugs approved to manage fibromyalgia include Lyrica (pregabalin), a nerve pain and epilepsy drug, and Cymbalta (duloxetine), another SNRI.
How Savella Works
With fibromyalgia, you may have a lower threshold for pain. Experts believe this may result from changes in your nervous system. These changes cause you to be more sensitive to pain. This could result from the wrong levels of neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in your brain.
Savella allows more of these neurotransmitters to travel from neuron to neuron. It is not exactly clear how Savella works. But increasing levels of neurotransmitters may ease pain and reduce fatigue or help with memory. However, not all these benefits have been tested in humans.
How Do You Take Savella?
Savella is a tablet. You take Savella in two divided doses each day. You start at 12.5 milligrams on the first day. Then you increase to 100 milligrams/day over a one-week period. Although the recommended dose is 100 milligrams/day, your doctor may increase it to 200 milligrams/day, based on your response to the medication.
This is the recommended regimen for Savella:
Day 1: 12.5 milligrams once
Days 2-3: 25 milligrams/day (12.5 milligrams twice daily)
Days 4-7: 50 milligrams/day (25 milligrams twice daily)
After Day 7: 100 milligrams/day (50 milligrams twice daily).
Do not suddenly stop taking Savella.
What Are the Benefits of Savella for Fibromyalgia?
Before FDA approval, clinical trials of more than 2,000 patients reported improvements in many of those taking Savella. A larger number of patients using Savella than placebo had at least a 30% reduction in pain. They also rated their fibromyalgia either very much improved or much improved.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Savella?
In trials of Savella, the most common side effect was nausea.
These are other common mild-to-moderate side effects of Savella:
constipation
dizziness
insomnia
hot flush or excessive sweating
vomiting
palpitations or increased heart rate
dry mouth
high blood pressure
Before You Take Savella
Have a conversation with your doctor before taking Savella. Discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant medications. And have a clear understanding about your treatment choices. In rare cases, antidepressant medications may cause suicidal thoughts and actions. But this occurs mainly in children, teens, and young adults. If you or a loved one is taking Savella, watch for unusual changes in thought patterns or behavior.
Do not take Savella if:
You are taking or have recently taken another type of antidepressant called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
You have an eye disease called narrow-angle glaucoma.
Before taking Savella, discuss with your doctor your use of other medications. This includes diuretics, triptans, or medications to treat psychiatric or neurological conditions. Ask if you should avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, or other drugs that thin blood. Combining these with Savella may increase your risk of abnormal bleeding.
Also, before starting Savella, tell your doctor if you are nursing or pregnant or plan to become pregnant. And tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, including:
high blood pressure
fast heart rate or other cardiac condition
liver problems or a history of heavy alcohol use
kidney problems
history of mania or seizure disorders
bleeding disorders
After You Begin Taking Savella
Take these precautions while on Savella:
Do not drive or use machinery until you are certain Savella is not affecting your mental or physical abilities.
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Talk with your doctor before stopping Savella and do not stop suddenly; this can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you begin taking any other medications, including over-the-counter drugs.
OK... Awesome... but here are the irritations I face...
1) So, under the "How Savella works"... Not all these have been tested on Humans?? Um, does anyone else see a problem with this?
2) Under possible side effects... "Dizziness, insomnia, vomiting".. Thanks, got those all ready because of the fibromyalgia... Why do I need a medication that could increase them?
3) "Before you take Savella..." it says mixing this medication with antidepressants might increase suicide... Um, hello Dr... I have been hospitalized in the past for suicide attempts (yea, I'm not proud of it people, but its reality), so... why would I want to take this medication when i haven't started any new medications for my Bipolar?
Anyways, at any rate, non the less, on the other hand... and what ever other expressions you can add here... I hope this works, because I'm sick of feelings, well.... sick...
Well, I will keep you posted on how the new medication works....
In other news, I heard from my Aunt Janet on Mothers day.....
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