DEAR DR. GOTT: I have lost 40 pounds in four months. I’m on a 1,800-calories-a-day diet and exercise almost daily. My doctor prescribed Adipex-P daily to help me with my weight loss and Arthrotec for my arthritis. These are the only new medications I am taking. I’m a 69-year-old female.
Since I began losing the weight, my hands have been unusually cold. It feels as if I have them in ice water. Is this something I should ask my doctor about, or is it normal?
DEAR READER: Adipex-P is an appetite suppressant for the treatment of obesity. Side effects can include constipation, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, headache, nervousness, restlessness, upset stomach, chest pain, shortness of breath and more.
Arthrotec is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that reduces pain and inflammation. Side effects can include headache, nausea, stomach pain, stomach ulcers, chest pain, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and more. Your arthritis may certainly have a bearing on your cold hands.
There is a slight possibility one of the new medications or a combination of others you might be on are causing your cold hands. Do you have Raynaud’s syndrome, a thyroid condition, anemia, a B12 deficiency or are you under stress? Any of these situations and many others could be the culprit. Ask your doctor whether any other medications you are taking could be affecting you, or whether he or she can order blood work that might shed some light on your problem. Without knowing your full medical history and the other medications you are on, it is impossible for me to determine why your hands have become so cold so quickly, but as I pointed out, there are many possible reasons.
In the interim, when you sit watching television or walk down the street every day, curl your hands up tightly into fists. Open the fists and stretch your fingers as wide as possible. Repeat the pattern, and do it several times a day. Incorporate arm exercises by swinging them forward and back. Get your circulation moving, eat a healthful, balanced diet, and discontinue tobacco immediately if you are a smoker, and you might find the relief you are seeking.