Raynauds symptoms not diagnosed as primary or secondary yet. What is the concensus re: Nifedipine, I do have high BP?

[Ema2]

I am from USA and cannot find a good forum like this one.

[Hidden]

Its working well for me and my previously quite high BP has come down now to slightly below normal at the lowest.

My mum died early from undiagnosed angina and my dad died at same age from stroke relating to hypertension so I feel it is a very good drug for me on all fronts. I don't have clearcut Raynauds as in white/ blue fingers or toes very often but the Nifedipine has taken the cold, wet, soggy, numb sensation out of my feet and legs. I'm on the lowest dose by slow release and I do get face and feet that flush on and off throughout the day but I just see it as a Ready Brek glow - not sure if this will mean much to you in the States though!

Good luck.

Regards,

Twitchy

[Hidden]

I recently started taking Diltiazem, another Calcium Channel Blocker. Initially I got quite a lot of headaches but seem to have built up a good tolerance to these tablets. I am also getting good relief from my Raynaud's attacks. They still happen but they are not as severe or long lasting. I also noticed one of my fingers which was permanently blue/black is a healthier hue now. I hope you get some relief from the Nifedipine.

[judyt]

I take Amlodipine for all those reasons you are quoting and I find that suits me well. I have been a migraine sufferer as long as Raynauds - they started together when I was 22. No diagnosis in spite of years of symptoms but finally in 2003 when I was 59 got a diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis. Started Amlodipine then and hey presto the headaches disappeared. Raynauds retired aout 8 years later so am free of those nuisance episodes completely now. Still take the Amlodipine though because the headaches come back if I cut it down.

[Amherst]

Presumably you have had an ANA blood test which will confirm or eliminate a secondary condition? Regarding nifedipine, in the UK it is the only drug which is licensed for Raynaud's. It opens up the blood vessels throughout the body so you can get side effects such as headaches but if you start on a low dose initially and take it at night you should find that any side effects will go away after a couple of weeks. It doesn't work for everyone but when it does work people seem to do very well on it.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

AM

[Ema2]

I have not had a blood test yet. But symptoms are getting worse. I had a sedimentation rate ESR done a year ago when symptoms were not as significant that was normal. I presented with other problems at that time and I think the internist may have been focusing on more of the womanly issues(which included some anxiety..trying to straighten hormones post hysterectomy) versus the Raynauds. I think he said he uses Cardizem SR sometimes but I was on a beta blocker at the time that I thought made it worse (he didn't think it should) but it decreased my heart rate too low and we went back to Losartan. Will follow up. Thanks for the response. I now get Raynauds symptoms with presumably no temperature change that I realize. Normal? I seem sensitive to any change even on my skin...trying to write or figure out symptoms more adequately to report.