Ranexa (ranolazine)

General
1

Hi,

My derm suggested I try ranexa. Tried searching the forum for it but found nothing. Was wondering if anyone tried it, had good/bad rxns to it. Took one pill, had off the charts burning … so I’m nervous to try again …

Ranexa is used for angina really but is a sodium channel blocker like mexiletine.

Since I just had no response to a couple months of mexiletine, it seems like my derm might be checked out / eager to prescribe anything to get me out of his office (?)

I’ve tried:

gabapentin (better for a while then made me worse)
lyrica (helps with pain, but sedating)
doxepin (no change)
amlodipine (better for a while then worse)
midodrine (massively worse)
effexor, cymbalta, paxil, remeron, no anti-depressant (no change)
topical ketamine 10% / amit 2% (rebound)
plaquenil (no change)
botox (improvement)
antihistamines (better for a while then nothing)
propranolol (improvement, but depression SE)
clonidine (improvement)
NSAID’s (no change)
clonazapam (improvement)

… not sure what else atm.

On a related note, my dad and brother have similar symptoms as me (evening burning). If I failed mexiletine, would it be worth it at all to check for the sodium channel mutation?

Thanks for any thoughts. Would really like to be able to work again!

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Just in case this might help anyone -

I gave ranexa another try. 5 days in. Yesterday I had to go out and get some bloodwork, and it was mid-70’s and got into a car that had been baking all day. I was shocked to realize that I was ok. My ears were hot/turned bright red, but no pain/burning. My cheeks got this feeling like they wanted to burn, but couldn’t – I just had this “fuzzy” feeling. Also, hands were ok.

usually I can’t get the ac on fast enough, and I’m trying to drive while trying to coordinate between my frozen water bottles / water misters. This time I felt I didn’t even need to turn on the AC (!)

First time in 2-3 years I felt this way. I’m not sure why I had that bad initial rxn, if that was a fluke/unrelated, or if I needed to come off of all vasoconstrictors (clonidine/beta blockers) to see a difference with the ranolazine (at my initial post, I thought vasoconstrictors were helping, but I think they were only helpful in the short-term with each dose while setting me up for more painful flares later… it was like I was always rebounding). I hope it lasts, but if it doesn’t I’m thankful to have had the temporary relief.

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