Raynaud's Phenomenon: Treatment Overview

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Treatment Overview

There is no cure for primary Raynaud's phenomenon, although the condition often can be effectively controlled. You may be able to limit or lessen the severity of attacks by keeping warm; managing emotional stress; and avoiding medicines or other substances that affect blood flow, such as nicotine, caffeine, or cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine. Avoiding beta-blockers, which are often used to treat high blood pressure and fast or irregular heart rates, is also advised. Beta-blocker medicines slow the heart rate and decrease how forcefully the heart contracts, causing even less blood to flow through your capillaries and making symptoms of Raynaud's worse. Examples of beta-blockers are atenolol, inderal, and metoprolol. Do not stop taking medicines your doctor has prescribed, such as beta-blockers, without talking with your doctor.

If Raynaud's phenomenon can't be effectively controlled with home treatment and it interferes with daily activities, your health professional may prescribe medicines. Medicines such as calcium channel blockers (including nifedipine); sildenafil; angiotensin II receptor antagonists (such as losartan); vasodilators (such as nitroglycerin and hydralazine), which are used to treat high blood pressure; and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as fluoxetine) may help increase blood flow to your hands and feet and relieve symptoms.

Some alternative treatments have shown promise in treating Raynaud's phenomenon. Ginkgo biloba was shown in one study to reduce the number of Raynaud's attacks.² Certain behavioral therapies have also shown positive results. Biofeedback training or autogenic training, in which a person attempts to control blood flow and skin temperature, may help in treating Raynaud's phenomenon.

If the condition is related to an underlying disease, a drug, or a specific activity (secondary Raynaud's), treating the underlying disease or stopping the drug or activity may also decrease the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon.

Last updated:	July 07, 2008
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC