Venlaflaxine For Fibromyalgia

[Cazza2612]

Is anyone taking Venlaflaxine for fibromyalgia and if so what are your views on it.

I was on 90 Duloxetine for the past 4 years and my weight had climbed to 15 stone and I’m only 5ft 3ins in height. Only been on this for a short time so not sure if it will help my weight or not. I also take paracetamol 500mg and dihydrocodeine none of which is making any difference.

My main problems are my legs. The muscles are all lumpy and I am in absolute agony.

I read the story on lady Gaga and the cream that she uses. I read individual reviews before deciding to give it a go. It’s the best cream that I’ve tried so far. The only problem is it’s very pricey for the amount you get. I had got to the point that I would pay anything for just a little pain relief.

You can buy this in the UK and it delivers very quickly. I was using another cream before that but the only place to get it was the USA and once it reached the UK you were hit with custom charges so I am so pleased to have found something that you can get in the UK and that it really works.

[Hidden]

Hi I find anything weak like paracetamol and dihydrocodeine does nothing for the excruciating pain of fibromyalgia. Venlafaxine is known by some doctors to help with pain so may well prescribe it obviously it was originally made for depression however I take venlafaxine and I find it contributes to pain relief but not solely on its own. Duloxetine sadly is known for weight gain as a side effect

[Cazza2612]

Thanks for your responses. My legs are the worst part at the moment. My muscles are all swollen and lumpy. My Dr won’t prescribe anything that is morphine based because she says it won’t work for fibro pain. I took a sleeping tablet tonight in the hope for some sleep but I am still wide awake and can’t take any more painkillers for a few hours yet so I guess I will just need to suffer for now

[Hidden in reply to Cazza2612]

See how doctors are so different! My doctor was totally fine and believes morphine based medication helps pain so gave me it! How differing doctors beliefs affects our treatments To

Each other! What sleeping meds did you try Cazza?

[Hollypop66]

Hello, I've been on the maximum dose of venlafaxine for years now, originally because of my depression and anxiety. I don't think it helps with my fibro pain because I still hurt, and take tramadol, naproxen and paracetamol as well. Nothing really helps, just take the edge off but on a bad day, oh boy. I've piled weight on yet don't eat any more than before, if anything I eat less because of nausea. I'm 5'2 and weigh 88 kg 😭 which I absolutely hate. Then the doctors have the audacity to say I need to loose weight and exercise more!! How can I exercise at all when even walking is agony? They give us these meds then blame us for the side effects, so wrong.

Best wishes.

[Cazza2612 in reply to Hollypop66]

Hi, Thanks for your message I totally understand the problems your having with weight because like I said mine has climbed so high. since being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia my appetite has decreased a lot yet I still don’t lose any weight. As far as exercise goes the only thing I do is Tai Chi. I originally did an 8 week course in the hospital and the instructor told us we should look for classes that are based on the sun because It is slow and most suited to our illness. Haven’t found a good class yet but hopefully I will soon.

[Maya23 in reply to Cazza2612]

I saw a trial on TV (Trust Me I’m a Doctor) where it showed that Tai Chi taxes the body as much as Zumba! Which is great because people like us can actually use Tai Chi as exercise

[Cazza2612 in reply to Maya23]

They say for fibromyalgia patients it’s very important to do exercise but you have to know what your limitations are or you’ll be bed bound for days. My Tai Chi instructor in the hospital told me to look for classes that are based on the sun because these classes are designed for arthritis and fibromyalgia patients. It’s just a matter of finding the right class that suits you. The other exercises to do are walking but make sure you pace yourself and don’t do too much the same with cycling. Swimming is good too, even if you can’t swim or actually swimming is too much for you just being in the warm water helps ease your muscles a bit.

[Hidden in reply to Hollypop66]

Do you think it’s specifically the venlafaxine which has made you gain weight?

[Cazza2612 in reply to Hidden]

No I was on Duloxetine for years and feel that is how I gained all my excess weight. It increased my appetite as well as helping me to pile on the pounds. The doctor thought that she would try me with venlaflaxine to see if it would help because she understands how I feel about gaining excess weight. I do have a very good GP who has worked with arthritis and fibromyalgia patients in Reumatology before becoming a GP so she knows more than most GPS about fibromyalgia as she has also studied it a lot. She says opioids don’t work for fibromyalgia pain as it is a neuropathic pain. I have been on lidocaine patches but they didn’t do a great deal for me. The sleeping tablets I am on are Zopiclone 7.5mg. Normally she gives me the half strength ones but knew I needed something stronger. It seems to take a day or so for my body to adjust to sleeping pills, they never work for me the first night. This is the first time I have had the stronger ones. I only ever get 7 at a time because she feels you’re body should adjust into a better sleeping pattern after 3 or 4 days and then you can stop them and use the rest when you need them again. I have a lot of faith and trust in my GP. She is a young doctor but really knows what she is talking about. If she felt morphine would help me she would give me it. She feels the severity of my pain might be coming from a form of arthritis as well as the fibromyalgia so I am back seeing the Reumatolagist in the new year again after having X-rays done recently. I have had just about everything else going to try and deal with my fibromyalgia. I have had acupuncture, done the pain management programme, mindfulness, exercise program in the hospital gym, tai chi in the hospital. I am currently at the homeopathic hospital for treatment so I have had a lot of different types of treatment. My GP is hoping that reumatology will come up with something that really helps. I would say my legs are the worst, I do get pain elsewhere but my legs have always been terrible. Some nights after taking every possible table and pain creams I am still in agonising pain that I end up crying myself to sleep. I am not ashamed to say that because that’s just how it is.

[Hollypop66]

I wish my doctor's were that understanding. Even the rheumatologist I saw said there's nothing else they can do to help me.

I feel your pain, my hips and legs are so bad, worse at night that I too cry myself to sleep.

Gentle hugs, x