Is anyone taking fluoxetine for Raynaud's?

[rjericks]

My rheumy has me on amlodipine 5mg, but it's not relieving my Raynaud's at all. She just added fluoxetine 20mg to use as a vasodilator. Has anyone tried this for their R's? I'm curious about real experiences and if it truly helps.

[dawng8500]

Yes, I am on fluoxetine, and it does help. I'm on a low dose, and it also helps with those mood swings (added side benefit!). I'm also on Rivatio (Viagra), and that helps more. It is pricey, because of "use not intended", but for me, it is wonderful! My sores have mostly healed since I've been on it, and I've not gotten any new ones. I would work with your rheumy on getting on this ASAP. If he tells you he / she is not familiar, fight to get on it!!

Dawn

[rjericks in reply to dawng8500]

Thanx Dawn

[Jensue]

Yes I take fluoxetine in a liquid, this was because my consultant said they had found this to be better than tablets for helping with the Raynaud's. Since taking it my attacks have lessened in severity.

[rjericks in reply to Jensue]

Thanx Jensue I've only been on it a few days now, but am really helping it works for me!

[suzierwp330]

ive been on floxutine for years now for depression and they are good i still get days i cry ,dont talk .or answer phone .and egnore my door .but anyone feeling anxious or depreesed out there i would recomend it .compared to what i was im almost myself .amd i have raynauds

[rjericks in reply to suzierwp330]

thanx Suzie

[nadine_49]

Hi rjericks, i take fluoxetine for anxiety i have taken it for years , the raynaunds and sclerderma association reccommened taking this , i take tablets and have been fine . It opens all your veins in hands , feet , and body hope you give it ago ...

[rjericks in reply to nadine_49]

Thanx Nadine...sure hope it relieves some of my R's

[SheriFrost]

My doc took me off and changed to cymbalta. It works great for the muscle pain

[rjericks in reply to SheriFrost]

I'm not experiencing muscle pain, but my problems with R's is severe, so hopefully fluoxetine will help, as the amlodipine doesn't seem to make any difference. I'll keep the cymbalta in mind, tho'...thanx

[RosemerryVenet]

I was prescribed fluoxetine many years ago forf depression, but told to keep taking it for my raynauds. My GP had no idea it was recommened for raynauds- he actually checked in his MIMS book and was quite surprised to see I was correct!

[rjericks in reply to RosemerryVenet]

thanx Rosemary...it's been 1 week, and I do think it's vasodilation factor is helping... I noticed the swelling and sores on my fingers are beginning to heal

[NickyWickyWoo in reply to RosemerryVenet]

LOL... Exactly the same thing happened to me!

[karyn]

I did and had a nasty reaction. Took 1 tablet at 8am and then another at 1pm. By 5 pm it felt that my head was going to explode, i could not see properly and the pain was excrutuiating. I could taste blood in my mouth and started to panic. Fortunately my son helped me to get into bed and gave me painkiller then i stayed there till i eventually fell asleep. never again!!!

[rjericks in reply to karyn]

Karyn, that sounds like a horrible experience! Fortunately, I'm not getting negative side effects

[Doggo]

I am on it too, it does help regulate moods and helps with the oesophagus and swallowing. Been on it 17 years now.

[rjericks in reply to Doggo]

Thanx Doggo

[NickyWickyWoo]

I am, and nifedipine and I'm on irbesartan for BP too. I think thats meant to treat raynauds too. The side effects for fluoxetine go away quite quickly. The nifedipine is nasty. I think its making me down and anxious

[rjericks in reply to NickyWickyWoo]

I was on the nifedipine in the past...did not tolerate it well..it bottomed out my bp and gave me headaches. The fluoxetine does seem to give significant relief to the severity of R's. I'm pleased with it thus far!

[jillyeve]

I also suffer from severe raynaud's and have have two separate infected fingers in the past year. One was so severe I was on 7 rounds of antibiotics for 4 months - then ended up in the hospital where I was given IV antibiotics. It didn't clear up until I took fluconozole. I've been taking Tiazac 120 for a year but figure there must be something better. The infectious disease doctor I saw for my last finger issue told me to check out a website uptodate.com. It's really informative and tells you all the options for raynauds. It also mentions fluoxetine, which I plan on adding to my tiazac daily. I hope it helps cause this is really getting annoying having fingers out of order for weeks. I hope this post helps someone who is looking for some answers. Good luck!

[rjericks]

thanx Jill:)...I wi;; check out that site.

I do find the fluoxetine helped reduce my R's symptoms; typically I have multiple areas of swelling, chilblains and pain. Currently, that's down to 2. My rheum did add the nitro patch to my meds. No ulcers this year(yet).

[rozsta]

I have had raynauds for about 18 years. I have very swollen hands, they turn purple-white tand develop sores all the time, even in the summer. My rheumatologist just prescribed 20mg of fluoxetine a day. Has anyone had this level of severity with raynauds and took fluoxetine? Any side effects and has it helped? I am trying to ascertain if it is worth taking because if the positive effects are not anything to rave about I might as well not take it at all. Thanks!

[rjericks]

Hi Rozsta! My R's is severe; this is the first winter in years that I have not had ulcers...I think the fluoxetine, 20mg, with the nitro patch is a good combo for me

__

[msdeedee]

I have been taking it for five years now it seems to help i take 40mg. It helps with the mood swigs depression that seems to follow Raynaud's and the Scleroderma

[rjericks]

Thanx msdeedee! I'm certainly finding it lessens the severity of R's symptoms and hope others can find the same relief

[tom-kenny]

sorry just read this post my raynauds was severe i tried illoprost and all meds .i am now on 60 mg fluxetine and pottasium tablets and they work great trial and error . good luck

[rjericks in reply to tom-kenny]

thanx tom-kenny...altho this is a milder winter here in NJ/USA, I am finding it offers significant relief from the typical R's severity

[daniella]

Hi rjericks I have also been prescribed 20mg Fluoxetine recently for Raynauds as i have had so many attacks last year and have suffered a lot of pain in my hands, pins and needles etc. It did make me feel sick at first, although I am now taking the medication at bed time, which has helped. I do feel that the medication is taking the edge off the pain and am hoping it will make my Raynauds easier to cope with. I hope this helps you too. Best Wishes