# Anyone with both EM and Raynaud’s take Mexiletine **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** treatment\ **Created:** [April 19, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802 "2020-04-19T20:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monkey](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/monkey/32/626_2.png) [@Monkey](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802/1 "2020-04-19T20:47:59Z")
My derm wants me to try Mexiletine. Not sure the dose he’ll suggest I start at, but just wondering if anyone with both Raynaud’s and EM has tried it and what your response was/is like. I didn’t respond well to nifedipine and I’m pretty nervous about the Mexiletine triggering more swelling and flares. ---
**Author:** ![anon16865673](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@anon16865673](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/anon16865673)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802/2 "2020-04-19T23:01:05Z")
I can’t see a situation in which mexiletine would cause more swelling and flares seeing as it dampens sympathetic flow. What I would be more concerned about is getting cleared by a cardiologist (via EKG) prior to starting the treatment due to mexiletine having an anti-arrhythmic effect. I personally have been taking it for 1.5 years (200mg B.I.D.) and haven’t had any side effects and it helps my flares quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Monkey](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/monkey/32/626_2.png) [@Monkey](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802/3 "2020-04-20T01:41:22Z")
Thanks, Joe. Yeah, I’ll be getting an EKG and he’ll monitor me carefully. I’ve finally learned how to not just connect myself with an attentive and intelligent doctor but I know now how to assert myself through this, especially when it comes to meds and side effects. I’m very prone/sensitive to these treatments. Appreciate your feedback, and anything else you think of, I’d love to hear it. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![standing\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@standing\_cat](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/standing_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802/4 "2020-04-20T16:38:34Z")
Monkey - good luck. You can maybe talk to doctor about titrating up slowly to help with your concerns. In the beginning, it actually did cause some vasodilation/heat for me. Eventually things shifted and it was cooling things down and not causing vasodilation at all. Maybe it took a while to interrupt the nerve firing. It ended up not quite working out for me but wanted to share my experience. I am really sensitive to anything opening blood vessels at all, though. I think most people do not notice any vasodilation with mexiletine. Hope it works for you! ---
**Author:** ![kost1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@kost1982](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/u/kost1982)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/t/anyone-with-both-em-and-raynaud-s-take-mexiletine/4802/5 "2020-04-20T20:10:42Z")
Good luck Monkey, please keep us posted on your progress. I have mild EM/Raynaud’s and going through treatment trial/error now, depending on how things progress, I may need to consider mexiletine as well.