What Medicines Cause High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, refers to high pressure or tension in the arteries. The arteries are responsible for transporting blood from the heart to all of the body's tissues and organs. A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80. A reading up to 139/89 is referred to as pre-hypertension. A reading over 140/90 is called high blood pressure.

Causes and Types

• There are many causes of high blood pressure. Essential hypertension accounts for 95 percent of high blood pressure. The causes of this type are numerous. A high intake of salt and genetic factors are the main culprits. Secondary hypertension affects only 5 percent of people with high blood pressure, and is caused by a specific disorder of an organ or artery.

Keeping Blood Pressure in Check

• Medications are used to treat blood pressure along with dietary and daily lifestyle changes. It is imperative to make sure that blood pressure medicine is working correctly and capably to lower blood pressure. Some medicines can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure, and some may interact and prevent the medicine from working accurately.

Medicines That Can Make Blood Pressure Worse

• NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can cause blood pressure to rise. NSAIDs include asprin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Some cold and cough medicines also contain NSAIDs. Migraine headache medications also cause blood pressure to rise. Weight-loss medications and appetite suppressants are others causes of a rise in blood pressure. Steroids also make the list. Tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibtors, erythropoietin and cyclosporine are also cited.

Illicit Drugs and Avoidance

• Cocaine can trigger and make blood pressure rise and increase. It also interferes with medication to lower blood pressure. All illicit drugs should be avoided. All unnecessary forms and types of medication should be shunned. Always consult your doctor and pharmacist when you are considering any type of over-the-counter medication when on high blood pressure medicine.

Contraceptives

• A woman who is overweight and taking oral contraceptives is more likely to develop high blood pressure. This is most apparent if the woman has a family history of high blood pressure, developed high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy or has mild kidney disease.

Alcohol

• Alcohol does not usually fall into the category of medicines, but alcohol is often used and abused for a plethora of reasons and even ailments. Heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure.

Fact

• High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can have serious and life-threatening consequences. You can control high blood pressure through dietary and lifestyle changes, and also with medicines.