Medication side effects - numb / tingly fingers

[Stopfordian]

I'm on my third version of beta-blockers to try and reduce the side effect of numb fingers, particularly when driving on my way home from work in the evening. When it's really cold, it can take a couple of hours before I get back sensation in my finger tips. They go a creamy white / blue and tingly and quite numb. I'm on Carvedilol 6.25mg twice daily. Does anyone else have this issue and what, if anything, have they been able to do to counteract it. I assume it's because my hands are above my heart when driving in the 10 to 2 position and there simply isn't enough blood pressure to get the blood to the ends of the fingers. I've more or resigned myself to it but would be interested to hear from anyone with a fix for it.

[Hidden]

If you have any concerns about possible side effects from the medication you are taking you should talk to your GP. Added to which it might be nothing to do with your meds but another medical condition such as, in your case, Raynaud's or perhaps less likely Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (look them up).

[Stopfordian in reply to Hidden]

Thanks LowerField. Interesting suggestion about Raynaud's because I was thinking along those lines myself and found the Raynaud's society. I will ask the GP next time I have my meds review following my annual cardiac check up appointment.

[devonian186 in reply to Stopfordian]

yes tell your GP but in the meantime you can get thin gloves that are a bit grippy on one side and plain on the other. They stretch a bit and are around £5 I wore them a lot when first on various medications but now wear them only when its genuinely cold. Interesting point about the driving position meaning your hands are above your heart.

[Yumz199725]

I thought was a side effect from my meds turns out b12 defincey. But yeah best to tell your gp.

[MountainGoat52]

I suffer from Raynauds and experience the effect you are getting when I'm on a long journey, particularly in winter. I'm only on 1.25mg Bisoprolol, but this can take my pulse rate down into the 40s when I'm relaxed. I enjoy driving and the long journeys are often timed for when the traffic is light, so that is when I get the effect the worst. As well as white tingling fingers, my toes are rarely warm, even with the car heater blowing on them.

I've had Raynauds all my life and many of my family suffer in one way or another from it. I've never been tested for it and my GP has constantly ignored the fact that I have it, so it has been a fight to get my medication adjusted to minimise the effect it has on me.

It may be something else that is causing the issue with your fingers, but it is worth getting it checked out whatever the cause.

[Buddybeamer24 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thank you GWP the same has happened to me over the years. If I am not driving, I often take a hot bottle on journeys and at night as my feet get very cold a lot.

I also get numb fingers every day whilst in bed or evenings, not pleasant is it as takes a while to get them feeling normal again.

GP not been at all helpful.

I

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Buddybeamer24]

This year my Raynauds has been so bad I've asked my GP if I can try Nifedipine. Cold and painful toes and virtually permanently cold nose and fingers. I've got a telephone conversation booked with the practice Pharmacist. Will have to see what transpires.

[VelvetSky]

Hi, I bought a new car, all bells and whistles but it is the heated seats and in particular the heated steering wheel that sold it to me, makes such a difference to my poorly hands.😻

[Hidden]

Dear Stopfordian

Oh those cold hands, day/night, winter/ summer yup I have them too and all that goes with them.

I found plug in and charge hand warmers a God send.

As your feet cold as well? something that we seem to forget as they are covered most of the time.

This was the first thing that my nurse asked me as the medication that affects the hands will affect the feet and most extremities { nose, penis etc } but offered no advice other than to

" keep them warm "

Take care

[richard_jw]

I have a pair of soft suede gloves. Before using them, it took 40 mins for my fingers to warm up driving on a cold day, now they stay warm (or you could buy a car with a heated steering wheel)

[Stopfordian]

So many responses - many thanks all. I'll definitely give the gloves a try and might even venture to a heated steering wheel cover! And I'll tell my GP. Raynaud's might well be what it is and I'll look further into that. Really appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I'm lucky that it's only my fingers that are affected; my other extremities (!) are not impacted which leads me to think that the old ticker is struggling to pump the blood above and out to the driving position.

[JK5AEO]

The pharmacist explained to me that the "only" side effects of Bisoprolol would be "freezing cold toes and fingers". He was right - I wear two pairs of socks, even in summer. It seems that the extremities of the digits are commonly affected.

[Stopfordian in reply to JK5AEO]

Thanks JK5AEO. I was also on Bisoprolol and changed to Carvedilol but it hasn't had any benefit (it's worse if anything); I will discuss with the GP further. 👍

[JK5AEO in reply to Stopfordian]

Good luck getting a GP appointment!

[bwiltshi]

I got cold hands and nose and low pulse on bisoprolol, eventually came off it completely, mainly due to concerns re low pulse. However even though heart rate is up a notch or two, my hands have been struggling with numbness and cold, now worse than ever. I have suffered carpal tunnel syndrome 12 + y ago, but had ops on both wrists, which 95% solved it. I have certainly spend a lot of time this winter trying to warm hands. Wear fingerless gloves in bed on cold nights, which helps with cold but still some numbness.

I suspect it is down to low pulse, low blood pressure and progressive HF.

Already on heaps of protective meds to reduce strain on my heart, which is key, and for time being I accept the cold hands as a nieusance .

[Stopfordian]

Thanks bwiltshi. Yes, whilst I will do what I can to relieve the symptoms and mentioning it again to the GP, I, too think I'll probably end up accepting it as a nuisance.