Some Meds Pose Risk for Raynaud’s
Learn which drugs can put you at risk for Raynaud’s phenomenon and the cold joints that come with it.
By Linda Rath | Updated Feb. 9, 2023
If your fingers and toes are icy, it might not just be the winter weather. It may be due to Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition in which hands and feet (and sometimes nose, ears or lips) overreact to cold temperatures or emotional stress. During an attack, blood vessels narrow, limiting blood flow to the skin and causing symptoms such as numbness, pain and changes in skin color.
Raynaud’s sometimes results from an injury or autoimmune disorder, such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and doctors are likely to attribute symptoms to those conditions in patients who have them. But Raynaud’s also can be caused by certain medications — something doctors may overlook.
If you develop symptoms of Raynaud’s, ask if they might be drug-related, and review a list of your medications with your doctor. “Although the association between certain drugs and Raynaud’s is well-known, doctors may miss it,” says Donald Miller, a professor of pharmacy practice at North Dakota State University in Fargo. “You have to be your own advocate.”
Here are three drug classes known to increase the risk of Raynaud’s.
Beta-Blockers
Although the arthritis medication cyclosporin can cause Raynaud’s, propranolol (Inderol) and certain other high blood pressure drugs are a leading cause of drug-related Raynaud’s, even in people with arthritis. “There are many treatments for high blood pressure, so if beta blockers cause problems, there are usually other options,” says Clark Kebodeaux, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky School of Pharmacy in Lexington.
Cancer Meds
Cancer drugs can have many side effects, including impaired blood vessel function. In some studies, more than one-third of patients treated with the chemotherapy drugs bleomycin and cisplatin developed Raynaud’s. “Symptoms usually appear three to six months after treatment and can last as long as 10 years,” Kebodeaux says.
Stimulants
Stimulants are known blood vessel constrictors. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), both used to treat ADHD, are associated with Raynaud’s in children. Even over-the-counter nasal sprays, such as Sudafed and Sudafed PE, which contain the stimulant pseudoephedrine, can cause symptoms of Raynaud’s in hands and feet.
If your fingers and toes are icy, it might not just be the winter weather. It may be due to Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition in which hands and feet (and sometimes nose, ears or lips) overreact to cold temperatures or emotional stress. During an attack, blood vessels narrow, limiting blood flow to the skin and causing symptoms such as numbness, pain and changes in skin color.
Raynaud’s sometimes results from an injury or autoimmune disorder, such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and doctors are likely to attribute symptoms to those conditions in patients who have them. But Raynaud’s also can be caused by certain medications — something doctors may overlook.
If you develop symptoms of Raynaud’s, ask if they might be drug-related, and review a list of your medications with your doctor. “Although the association between certain drugs and Raynaud’s is well-known, doctors may miss it,” says Donald Miller, a professor of pharmacy practice at North Dakota State University in Fargo. “You have to be your own advocate.”
Here are three drug classes known to increase the risk of Raynaud’s.
Beta-Blockers
Although the arthritis medication cyclosporin can cause Raynaud’s, propranolol (Inderol) and certain other high blood pressure drugs are a leading cause of drug-related Raynaud’s, even in people with arthritis. “There are many treatments for high blood pressure, so if beta blockers cause problems, there are usually other options,” says Clark Kebodeaux, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky School of Pharmacy in Lexington.
Cancer Meds
Cancer drugs can have many side effects, including impaired blood vessel function. In some studies, more than one-third of patients treated with the chemotherapy drugs bleomycin and cisplatin developed Raynaud’s. “Symptoms usually appear three to six months after treatment and can last as long as 10 years,” Kebodeaux says.
Stimulants
Stimulants are known blood vessel constrictors. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), both used to treat ADHD, are associated with Raynaud’s in children. Even over-the-counter nasal sprays, such as Sudafed and Sudafed PE, which contain the stimulant pseudoephedrine, can cause symptoms of Raynaud’s in hands and feet.
Stay in the Know. Live in the Yes.
Get involved with the arthritis community. Tell us a little about yourself and, based on your interests, you’ll receive emails packed with the latest information and resources to live your best life and connect with others.