Ramipril linked to Raynaud's disease

[WIAW]

My husband has been on Ramipril for just over a year after being diagnosed with heart disease. While on holiday recently he noticed after spending a few minutes in the, rather cold, pool his fingers and toes had gone extremely cold and all colour had drained from them. Having consulted Dr Google I believe he is now suffering with Raynaud's disease which can be linked to taking Ramipril. I wondered if anyone else had experienced similar and if they have been changed onto a different medication as a result?

[RufusScamp]

I took Ramipril for around a year, before I was moved onto another drug, but had no problems with it. Your husband's condition may just be coincidence.

[Avagra in reply to RufusScamp]

Been on ramipril two years and one thing I get is cold feet/hands it’s quite common with this drug .

[Lonmayloon]

Is your husband taking a beta blocker for his heart disease? Cold extremities is a fairly common side effect when taking them.

[WIAW in reply to Lonmayloon]

He is, yes. He's never had this before so we were putting it down to being a side effect of his meds.

[Lonmayloon in reply to WIAW]

I’ve been taking perindopril for about 15 years without any side effects but when started on bisoprolol a few years after I began to notice the side effects of cold extremities.

You ask if there’s anything to be done to alleviate the symptoms. I find it is worst when sitting around inactive in a cooling atmosphere (eg when the weather turns or maybe the central heating switches off). I seldom notice the symptoms at first until it hits me that my hands and feet have become very cold. When this happens it takes a while to get them back up to a comfortable level so keeping them warm is the better option. Good thick, long merino wool socks in winter, wearing a woolly hat even indoors, good gloves outside in winter. Wearing bed socks helps.

I’m skiing at the moment and even at -13C it’s manageable. Avoiding open chairlifts where there is windchill, taking enclosed cabins, sitting on hands, or tucking into armpits to protect them, keeping at a very active pace so there is no cooling down period and staying dry if possible.

In summer time I go sea kayaking on Scottish coast (so not warm even in summer). Keeping hands and feet dry, if possible, is the best option or wet suit gloves and boots if not. I don’t know if they would be acceptable in a holiday pool but you get the general drift. Getting dry and changed as quickly as possible is also essential. Our local wild swimming group can sometimes be seen in some outlandish outfits. Thickest neoprene boots, gloves, hoods and bobble hats and a swimming costume! Whatever works!

I hope this helps, all the best.

[fishonabike in reply to WIAW]

A beta blocker like Bisoprolol is more likely to be the source of his problems, they are frequently associated with cold extremities and worsening of Raynauds symptoms

[Lezzers]

My husband has severe Raynaud's and he's never taken ramapril. Unfortunately Raynauds is just one of those things that some people with a heart condition suffer with.

[WIAW in reply to Lezzers]

Is there anything he can do to alleviate the symptoms?

[Twosumsmum in reply to WIAW]

Ginger helps to n any format

[Bunkular in reply to WIAW]

Lonmayloon (above) has very good advice.

[Lezzers in reply to WIAW]

Hi

I noticed someone else has mentioned beta blockers but again my husband had Raynaud's way before he started taking beta blockers. His Raynaud's is so bad that even in summer, if we've had a few days of really hot weather & then we revert to our usual summer weather (assuming you're in the UK!) even that change in temperature affects him! Though it's far worse in winter. The only thing I can suggest is to ensure he keeps warm even wearing gloves in the house if necessary, fingerless gloves are great, warm socks, slippers. He's never yet been able to find a pair of gloves that keep his hands warm outside the house so he's got a pair of rechargeable hand warmers that he pops into his coat pockets or gloves and they really help him, and you can adjust the heat to a comfortable temperature. Plus wear a wooly hat as most of our body heat is lost through the top of our heads. Hope this helps

OCOOPA Hand Warmers Rechargeable... amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7XJSBQ3?...

[bluedolphin2 in reply to Lezzers]

I had Raynaud's for years even before I was on medication for high blood pressure for my heart stenosis. It's due to poor circulation. If it persist,ask your doctor to change it.

[vbonariensis]

I'm 81 and I too take Ramipril .

I have always had cold and quite painful toes, but I'm not sure there's any connection.

I hardly notice the condition during the day whilst I am active and engaged, whilst

in bed I rely on my electric blanket followed by a hot water bottle and thick socks.

[Redfloyd]

I have suffered from Raynauds for years, probably since my school days. I used to put it down to me literally being skin and bones. I still am, 5ft 11" and just under 11st. Only had it in my hands though not my feet. I tried every type of glove available within reason, didn't make any difference. The only thing that worked for me was putting them in very warm water. I know it's not recommended because of chilblains but it worked for me. In recent years I used a USB hand warmer which certainly helped. Since have my valve and CABG I don't get it anywhere near so bad but that could be because I'm still not back to work and don't get outside so early. I'm taking Clopidorel, Losartan and Bisoporsol. Unfortunately my blood pressure and pulse are higher than I would like since the op so it could be that that has improved my Raynauds.

[MountainGoat52]

I have had Raynauds since birth... it runs in the family. I took Ramipril for a while and it had no effect on the condition, but when I was prescribed the beta blocker Bisoprolol it got significantly worse. I now take Nifedipine to counteract the effects of the Bisoprolol and indeed my fingers, toes and nose are better than they have ever been.

It may be that your husband has had Raynauds as an underlying condition for some time, maybe even always, but it has now become an issue with the beta blocker.

[Pouchielou1972]

I've had Raynauds for years, way before my heart condition diagnosis or heart meds. Ramipril medication when I was on it briefly or my beta blockers meds hasn't made a difference for me, but I heard it can for some people. Our bodies react differently to the different meds.

[LSCE]

hello,

I developed Raynauds after my heart attack and wondered if it was caused by Ramipril, my medication was changed but Raynauds remained. However, after starting the calcium channel blocker Nifedipine after my second heart attack I no longer get Raynauds or the severe heart attack type angina I was experiencing.

[MustyK]

When the blood struggles to get to the small (capillaries) arteries at the extremities of our body, then the temperature drops. I suspect, by taking blood pressure lowering meds, the blood pressure drops so not enough pressure to push the blood to the hands and feet. Sitting down for long periods of time makes the problem worse.

What I tend to do, is get up and walk around the house (my office is at home). Sometimes I even go on the exercise bike for 15mn, and that alone seems me for the rest of the day. I am on Losartan, Ramipril gave me dry cough. And I have always had Raynaud's syndrome.

[Tlyna]

When I was on it I started having trouble with fatigue, vision problems and worst of all shortness of breath that got so bad I couldn't walk 20 feet without doubling over trying to breathe. I thought at first it was due to having been in pain for so long before a Radiofrequency ablation on my back that I had gotten weak for lack of exercise but when I read up on the more extreme side effects I quit taking it. Within a couple of days I improved quite a bit for some time but then the same problems came back and even worse. I was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis and had to have surgery fairly quickly. I don't know if the drug caused it or just made it worse as I hadn't been diagnosed with it before.

[DiyChas]

Raynaud's usual is noticed at a younger age. I started noticing it in my teens. I was on ramipril for a couple of years a few years ago and didn't notice any change in my hand and feet.He will know if it is Raynaud's if he touches anything cold or is in the cold with bare hands. They will turn blue/purple and start to hurt. Then they turn white if he remains in that situation.

Raynaud's is not serious (for me) but I suspect it is related to other circulatory/vascular problems.