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New Fibromyalgia Drug Savella- Another Gasoline Additive The FDA’s approval of Savella for the treatment of fibromyalgia, comes 19 months after the approval of Lyrica, the first drug approved for fibromyalgia, and roughly nine months after the approval of a the antidepressant, Cymbalta. Savella is similar to Cymbalta, both are antidepressants known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These drugs are supposed to help a person re-uptake and use the serotonin (calming brain hormone) and norepinephrine (stimulating brain hormone) more effectively. SNRI drugs don’t make serotonin or norepinephrine only help the brain use what it has more effectively. The approval of Savella was based on two clinical trials involving 2,084 fibromyalgia patients (1,460 on Savella and 624 on placebo). In order to be classified as having responded to treatment, patients had to improve on several parameters including pain, the patient’s global or overall impression of improvement, and physical function. About 25 percent of people taking Savella had a positive response. This was considerably better than the 13 percent who had a positive response to placebo. However, while the maker’s of Savella will be sure to promote that it is twice as effective as a placebo, what they won’t say is what you now know- the drug failed to help 1,095 of the 1,460 participants in the study who were taking Savella. There are no studies directly comparing Savella to Cymbalta, although it is likely that because of their similar mechanisms of action they would be similar in effectiveness. If you’ve read my book or past articles on fibromyalgia you already know that those with fibro have low serotonin and norepinephrine levels due to bankrupting their stress coping savings account. Serotonin is a brain chemical that helps regulate deep restorative sleep, reduces pain, boosts mood and mental clarity, and controls digestion and elimination (IBS). Norepinehrine helps boost moods, mental and physical energy, and block pain. Restoring serotonin and norepinehrine to optimal levels often yields dramatic improvement in the chronic pain, poor sleep, low moods, and brain fog associated with fibromyalgia. But using these drugs is analogous to using a gasoline additive to help your car get more mileage out of the gasoline in the tank. Unfortunately, for the majority of the individuals who suffer with fibromyalgia and or depression, they don’t have any serotonin or norepinephrine in their brains to re-uptake. A gasoline additive poured into an empty gasoline tank doesn’t help much, if at all. A SRNI drug given to someone with little to no serotonin or norepinephrine to re-uptake doesn’t do much- results are usually fleeting. Just as concerning are the studies which show that using these type of drugs cause the brain to release less and less serotonin and norepinephrine over time. SNRI drugs work by blocking the removal of serotonin and norepinephrine from its synapse. Over time, the brain tries to compensate by shutting down the nerves that produce these two neurotransmitters. This is known as down-regulation. Eventually, the brain begins to reduce the number of serotonin and norepinephrine receptors–up to 40-60 percent in some parts of the brain–until they literally disappear from the brain. Now the patient is really in trouble as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, irritable bowel, brain fog, and poor sleep become even worse. This may explain why patients often switch from one antidepressant drug to another in hopes of feeling better. Common side effects of prescription antidepressants may include anxiety, depression, headache, muscle pain, chest pain, nervousness, sleeplessness, drowsiness, weakness, changes in sex drive, tremors, dry mouth, irritated stomach, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, rash, itching, weight gain, diarrhea, impotence, hair loss, dry skin, chest pain, bronchitis, abnormal heart beat, twitching, anemia, low blood sugar, and low thyroid. Savella may be helpful, certainly safer than Lyrica, but no one suffers from a Savella or antidepressant deficiency. What fibromyalgia and mood disorder patients need is more serotonin and norepinephrine- pour in the gasoline, there’s no need for an additive. Amino Acid Therapy/Nutritional Therapy Neurotransmitters or brain chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine are produced from the amino acids in the foods we eat. Certain amino acids along with B vitamins and minerals (one of many reasons why I recommend my patients take the CFS/Fibromyalgia Formula and the Fibromyalgia Jump Start Package) produce the neurotransmitters. Use the Brain Function Questionnaire to Know if You’re Low in Serotonin and or Norepinephrine- The Brain Function Questionnaire The "S" Group (S for Serotonin) Please check the items, which apply to your present feelings: It's hard for you to go to sleep. You can't stay asleep. You often find yourself irritable. Your emotions often lack rationality. You occasionally experience unexplained tears. Noise bothers you more than it used to. It seems louder than normal. You "flare up" at others more easily than you used to. You experience unprovoked anger. You feel depressed much of the time. You find you are more susceptible to pain. You prefer to be left alone. 5HTP- Boosts Serotonin Levels Supplementing with 5-hydroxytrryptophan (5HTP), a form of tryptophan helps raise serotonin levels. Studies show that 5HTP is as effective as antidepressant drug therapy including SSRI medications. One study showed that patients on 5HTP had a 50 percent improvement in their mood disorder symptoms. The "N" Group (N for Norepinephrine) Please check the items which apply to your present feelings: You suffer from a lack of energy. You often find it difficult to "get going." You suffer from decreased drive. You often start projects and then don't finish them. You frequently feel a need to sleep or "hibernate." You feel depressed a good deal of the time. You occasionally feel paranoid. Your survival seems threatened. You are bored a great deal of the time. The neurotransmitter Norepinephrine, when released in the brain, causes feelings of arousal, energy, and drive. On the other hand, a short supply of it will cause feelings of a lack of ambition, drive, and or energy. SAMe S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAMe)- is involved in regulating the brain's neurotransmitters. SAMe has been shown through several recent, well designed, studies to be one of the best natural antidepressants available. SAMe helps boost serotonin and epinephrine levels. It also helps increase the production of endorphins. SAMe Helps Boost the Effects of Antidepressants Research has already shown that SAMe increases both serotonin and norepinephrine levels (brain chemicals) and is a potent antidepressant by itself. Now researchers have shown that combining SAMe with prescription antidepressants reduces the failure rate by 43%. There are over 100 peer-reviewed studies showing that S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is a safe and effective antidepressant. Start with 400mg taken on an empty stomach in the morning and if needed increase up to 1200mg. Dr. Rodger Murphree author of "Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." For more information about fibromyalgia see www.treatingandbeating.com get a free report at www.beatfms.com
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