Effect of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine on Raynaud's phenomenon. A controlled double blind trial.

Eighteen patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) of various etiologies completed a 10-week double blind parallel trial of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine (n = 10) versus placebo (n = 8). Patients on nifedipine were found to have had significant reduction of the number of episodes of RP but there were no differences in the intensity of episodes in patients taking nifedipine between the 1st and 6th visits nor between the nifedipine and placebo patient groups. Nifedipine seems to be helpful in the management of RP and was effective for the duration of this study.