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

[Sarahvit in reply to JoLouise88]

Yes I notice a difference from 10yrs ago and even 20yrs ago. I think it is a combination of the progression of the course of the fibromyalgia and the course of aging which gets amplified. There is some conditions that have gone away and new issues arising. For me the fibro fog and fatigue that has affected my “fight” to continue to find cures. It is more of a mental and cognitive health thing for me.

[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

[Daisymay2469]

Hi im the same fibromialgia and m.e now PoTS tooIm on 6 a day tramadol but im struggling to eat I've lost 2 stone taste and smell is horrible

Migraines are bad

This must be due to tramadol I've no appetite at all

Can I ask how many you take im looking for something to add to tramadol as I'm still in pain like you it just takes the edge off

I did see this on Google as well fingers crossed we get it here my life is unbearable at the moment.

[JoLouise88 in reply to Daisymay2469]

Morning 😊

So I take 8 tramadol a day.

Reading lots of comments on here, my search for the ‘magic pill’ is definitely none existent & any meds we take will only take the edge off which is a pretty miserable thought!

So on this thread I’ve actually been speaking to another migraine sufferer. I suffered terribly, 1st off started taking toprimate, which cut the migraines down, but I lost alot of weight on this med, then when I was struggling with the pain etc on top, they put me of gabapentin which has totally got rid of the migraines. So actually when I asked for help on this thread, I think I’ve found I got the help, just can’t accept that this pain is now my daily life.

Gabapentin I take 9 a day, which actually takes the edge off the pain but has totally eliminated the migraines. Unfortunately the 1st year taking this med, I put on 3 stone, but my weight has stayed steady now. I’m finding it near impossible to loose weight, but that’s a whole different post.

I was taking naproxen which didn’t do any great, not worth the risks involved taking that. & really bad days I take paracetamol.

I tried duloxetine, but I was so poorly, was unbearable along with pain etc, but everyone is different!

If you are going to keep on with tramadol, could u try the sickness wristbands maybe? The feeling will eventually pass x x

[Daisymay2469]

Oh I've tried all those meds duloxetine sent me crazy took ages to get off it was only onit a few weeks I have ibs so I get all side effects it seems amitriptaline is a favourite but I can take that either

I don't feel sick but no appetite do you find regular paracetamol helps with the tramadol

Im currently sat legs wrapped in a heated blanket ouch

But im sweating lol as I'm really hot most of the time

It's just miserable I think your right it's just meds take the edge off

Im now waiting on pain clinic

I also sleep for 14hrs or insomnia

Im still coming to terms with it all really

At least we are not alone on here

Thankyou for your reply 😊