Cold Hands and Feet? Why Women Are Taking Viagra To Boost Circulation— ‘It’s Life-Changing!’

Cold weather is coming, and with it many of us suffer from pain in our fingers and toes. It’s a common problem for women with naturally low blood pressure, poor circulation or a condition called Raynaud’s syndrome. So we were intrigued when we heard about women taking a surprising medication to get relief in the fall and winter: Viagra. Here, experts explain why women are taking Viagra to treat their cold hands and feet. If you’re the type who keeps a pair of mittens in every purse, who uses cups of tea as hand warmers or thinks twice before accepting a social invitation for an outdoor activity—this story is for you!

What causes cold hands?

When exposed to cold temperatures, the blood vessels in our hands can constrict, reducing blood flow by as much as 90 percent. And while the bulk of our blood stays in our core, that means our extremities—like fingers and toes—can grow pale, chilly and painful.

This can be a universal frustration, or the sign of a larger health issue. For example, Raynaud’s syndrome is a condition where the blood vessels temporarily spasm and shunt off, limiting blood flow. The result? Color changes to the skin and, in some cases, painful ulcers. In addition, cold hands can be a side effect to certain medications, such as blood pressure meds and some beta blockers.

How Viagra works to improve circulation

We’ve all heard how men take Viagra (sildenafil) to treat erectile dysfunction. In that classic case, the medication stimulates blood flow to the penis. Well, the same premise can work for cold hands and feet. The medication relaxes smooth muscles along the walls of our vessels, letting them widen to promote healthier blood flow. When prescribed off-label by a doctor, women can take Viagra to improve circulation to their extremities—those painfully chilly fingers and toes—to help relieve or prevent cold-weather symptoms.

Rheumatologist Katrina Lawrence-Wolff, DO, says Viagra is one of the tools she can offer patients—especially if they don’t want to take blood-pressure-lowering drugs—when they’re dealing with the cold hands of Raynaud’s syndrome.

It’s just one of many creative examples of using medications off-label. Internist Fred Pescatore, MD, says, “It is kind of like using botox for a weak bladder—sort of manipulating the body through off-label use of the drugs.”

In fact, women also use Viagra for other circulation reasons. It is an active ingredient in a sexual arousal topical treatment nicknamed “Scream Cream.” (But that’s another story…)

How to use Viagra for cold hands and feet

Curious to ask your doctor about this health hack, and maybe even try using Viagra for cold hands yourself? Dr. Pescatore says, “it is short acting and could indeed be a benefit. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, so plan that time around your outside activity.” That means if you know you are attending an outdoor football game or a holiday sleigh ride in the cold, consider taking a pill before you go. Dr. Pescatore adds, “It lasts for four to six hours.”

As part of a treatment protocol, some doctors recommend taking Viagra two to three times a day to treat severe cases of cold hands or treatment-resistant Raynaud’s. Your doctor can outline the right dose and schedule for you.

What women are saying about using Viagra for Raynaud’s

For many, it works. People have reported their hands feel warm—that’s the blood flow improving! And a study in the journal Circulation found that when taking 50 mg of sildenafil twice daily for four weeks, subjects experienced a significant decrease in their weekly Raynaud’s attacks.

Although this sounds novel, people have been using Viagra for cold hands for a long time. On a thread for those who use Viagra for Raynaud’s, one Reddit user posted: “I’ve been on it for a couple of years and it’s been very effective at reducing both the frequency and severity of attacks. I still suffer, but now it tends to be more isolated to particularly extreme situations (e.g. when it’s especially cold and/or I’m unprepared).”

Another person on that same thread shared, “It’s life changing for me.”

And this woman reiterated the mechanics of why it works, “Viagra is commonly prescribed off label for Raynauds. It causes some blood vessels to dilate which counteracts the Raynauds since it overconstricts.”

More ways to treat cold hands and feet this winter

“From an integrative medicine perspective, there is definitely a place for low-dose sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) in certain patients with Raynaud’s,” says triple board-certified ob-gyn Anna Cabeca, DO. But she emphasizes also looking at underlying factors of poor circulation including vascular health, inflammation, nutrition, lifestyle and environmental triggers. Plus, she recommends these practical measures:

• Gentle lymphatic massage or dry skin brushing
• Keeping extremities warm by wearing breathable, natural materials such as merino wool
• Wearing light compression garments when appropriate
• Taking nitric oxide-supporting supplements or vitamin C for vascular health

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“Improving circulation requires a comprehensive approach, not simply treating cold hands and feet in isolation,” Dr. Cabeca explains.

The bottom line on Viagra for cold hands and feet

One note of caution: “Be careful if you are on any blood pressure lowering meds, especially nitrates,” Dr. Pescatore says. “Always check with your doctor before using.”

That said, if you struggle with chronic cold hands in the fall and winter, ask your doctor about using low-dose Viagra to improve circulation. It can be a surprising but legitimate treatment for cold hands and Raynaud’s syndrome. We hope you find relief. And in the meantime, keep those wooly mittens within reach!