High blood pressure (hypertension)

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Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure

From acetaminophen to stimulants, know which drugs and supplements can affect your blood pressure.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, supplements and other substances can raise your blood pressure. In addition, these substances can sometimes interfere with medications intended to lower your blood pressure.

Here are some medications and supplements that can increase your blood pressure. If you're taking any of these medications or supplements and are worried about the effect it could have on your blood pressure, talk to your doctor.

Acetaminophen

People who take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) daily are more likely to develop high blood pressure than are those who don't take acetaminophen. However, there's no evidence that occasionally taking acetaminophen causes any long-term increase in blood pressure.

Tell your doctor if you take acetaminophen regularly. He or she might recommend alternating between acetaminophen and other pain relievers. Because pain relievers affect blood pressure in different ways, alternating between them may give your body a break. Also consider other ways to control pain, such as warm or cold compresses, exercise or massage.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants work by changing your body's response to brain chemicals, including serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, that affect your mood. These chemicals may also cause your blood pressure to increase. Examples of antidepressants that can raise your blood pressure include:

  • Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL)
  • Desipramine (Norpramin)
  • Phenelzine (Nardil)

If you take antidepressants, have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure increases or isn't well controlled, ask your doctor about alternatives to these medications. He or she may recommend lifestyle changes or additional medications to control your high blood pressure.

Birth control pills

Birth control pills and other hormonal birth control devices contain hormones that may increase your blood pressure by narrowing smaller blood vessels. Virtually all birth control pills, patches and vaginal rings warn high blood pressure may be a side effect.

Not all women will have increased blood pressure from using hormonal birth control, but if you're worried, have your blood pressure checked at least every six to 12 months. If you already have high blood pressure, consider using a different form of birth control.

While nearly all birth control pills can raise your blood pressure, your blood pressure may be less likely to increase if you use a birth control pill or device that contains a lower dose of estrogen.

Caffeine

Caffeine may temporarily increase your blood pressure by blocking a hormone that keeps your blood vessels widened, allowing blood to easily flow through them. In addition, caffeine may cause you to produce more cortisol and adrenaline, which makes your blood flow faster, thus increasing your blood pressure. Examples of caffeine-containing medications and products include:

  • Caffeine pills (Vivarin, others)
  • Caffeine in coffee, energy drinks and other beverages

There isn't enough evidence to prove that caffeine raises your blood pressure long term, although some doctors suggest limiting your daily amount of caffeine to no more than 200 milligrams — about the amount in two 12-ounce (355-milliliter) cups of coffee.

Cold medicines (decongestants)

Decongestants narrow your blood vessels, which makes it harder for your blood to flow through them, increasing blood pressure. Decongestants may also make some blood pressure medications less effective. Examples of decongestants include:

  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
  • Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)
  • Oxymetazoline (Afrin, others)

Check the label of your cold or allergy medication to see if it contains a decongestant. If you have high blood pressure, it's best to avoid decongestants. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter cold products made for people who have high blood pressure.

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MY00256 Oct. 2, 2010

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