Milnacipran in UK

[JoLouise88]

Hi everyone, hoping everyone’s feeling well, although this weather is driving my body into the dumps 🤣! Not fun.

So I need a little advice, I’m currently taking Gabapentin 2700mg daily, Tramadol, naproxen & Baclofen & I’m still feeling pretty rough, in pain & just want to hide away! Obviously I’m pushing constantly, but I’m just surviving! (If that makes sence) In my mind, taking this cocktail should make the pain ease a lot, but it’s just making it bearable!

Anyway, I’ve been reading over and over & MILNACIPRAN keeps popping up. Has anyone got any advice on this drug for me?

to be honest, I’m happy to strip back to basics & start again, because I genuinely can’t keep on in this survival mode. I’m 36 with 2 children & we are surviving on takeaways & ready meals because my body just can’t do what I need it to do!

Obviously I’m more than happy to look at other options also if anyone has any advice! I’ve been diagnosed now for 6 years & just seems to keep getting worse over time! I’ve trialed many drugs over the years, but here I am still looking to trail more!

Any help guys and girls I’d be very great full x

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Milnacipran is not licensed for use in the UK for fibromyalgia, so it's very unlikely you will get in prescribed especially on nhs. Not sure if it's something you would get privately

[JoLouise88 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

good old google! Ok, may have to look for a plan b then! Thankyou for your reply x

[CarrGomm]

Hi. I started on Tramadol year's ago for severe sciatica. I needed surgery for the sciatica which worked so I stopped Tramadol but found my fibro was a lot worse. I went back on them and they do help me, but reading some post's on here has made me realise that my fibro is much milder than most. So I take as little as possible to manage it. I'm lucky to be able to excercise. I am humble and so thankful and my heart goes out to you all that are suffering so much with this awful disease. I do take Amytriptyline., paracetamol and Tramadol and I walk and do pilates. I do have awful day's of pain and exhaustion and I take extra Tramadol to help, I would try it and see if it helps.x

[JoLouise88 in reply to CarrGomm]

Hi there, Thankyou for your reply! So I do take tramadol, which to be honest, I feel out of all the meds I’m on, is the most reliable & does take the edge off. I’m actually trying to loose weight as we speak, which is making everything so much worse, but I’m wondering if I push on through these bad days, will it eventually bring some benefits?? I think at the moment I’m so tired of not being able to be the active person/parent I was, that I suppose I’m looking for a miracle cure, which from lots of reading isn’t going to happen & I should feel privileged at this point I’m not wheelchair bound? But then this terrifies me, if I look back to 4 years ago, I complained about the pain then, yet I have deteriorated so much that if I don’t get this under control now is a wheelchair going to be my fate? This disease is absolutely insane, & I feel for every person suffering, whether that be minor or severe, it honestly doesn’t matter, however it catches us is just pure evil!

[Sarahvit]

Hi JoLouise, I too am taking tramadol, gabapentin, Cymbalta, amitriptyline, Trazidine and Tylenol for the pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis in my left hip. I had been on hydrocodone and even morphine for my back. Something changed when I turned 62. The pharmacist called my doctor to say “you can’t prescribe tramadol and hydrocodone at the same time. So my doctor called me to ask me which one to choose from? The hydrocodone was for those really bad days and I only took 1 a day which 30 lasted 3 months. I have never been on Milnacipran but sounds similar to Cymbalta and even the good old amitriptyline which has been prescribed for decades for chronic pain, insomnia and depression for those with fibromyalgia. Everyone’s body is different so it is a trial and error process in finding what works best for you. I was in my early 30’s when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The goal is to increase our quality of life. Taking Celebrex for several years lead to kidney issues kidney function drops down low and took years to come back up to normal. So can’t do the naproxen, ibuprofen and other NSADS on and kind of regular basis for pain. I see my younger self in you. I had 2 children at the age of 36. I wish I could have been of better help. Sending hugs, 🤗 love 💕 and prayers 🙏🏼. When I was 36yrs old I was dealing with major stomach pain and nausea. I was either going to the doctor, after hours doctors or ER. I was riding in the back of the ambulance saying to the EMT that my body is confused thinking it was 63 instead of 36! My heart goes out to you.

[JoLouise88 in reply to Sarahvit]

Ahhh literally sounds like you’re talking my story! 😢

It is the card we’ve been played & I just wish more research will bring us a better lease of life! I do battle through it everyday, I won’t let it beat me, it’s just draining fighting the pain constantly & then come bed you can’t sleep through the pain! But I suppose only we can find a solution to better our own life’s!

So I notice from how I felt 4 years ago thinking the pain was unbearable then, to how I feel now & how much the pain has got worse, do you notice a difference from say how you felt 10 years ago to now? I suppose I say, has your body deteriorated a lot over the years? X x

Thankyou for replying, honestly feel for everyone suffering with this crappy disease! Wish I could find a cure for us all x x

[Athensrose]

Hi I was taking tramadol when I had my total hip replacement and found 2 made me feel sick so my GP suggested I take 2 paracetamol and 2 hours later 1 tramadol and I found that eased my pain, as that worked then I still do the same now for my fibro. Good luck I hope it works for you. Take Care