Drugs causing hypertension

Possible contributors include some anti-inflammatory pain medicines, decongestants, corticosteroids, hormonal treatments, stimulants, and certain mental-health medicines. The effect varies with the product, dose, duration, and your health. A medicine may cause the body to retain salt and water, narrow blood vessels, or interfere with blood-pressure treatment. Do not assume a prescribed medicine is the only explanation: kidney disease, sleep apnoea, obesity, and other conditions may also affect readings.

Make a complete list of medicines, inhalers, creams, supplements, and pharmacy products, including how often you use them. Bring it to a medication review and mention when higher readings began. Do not stop steroids, hormone treatment, or another regular medicine suddenly. A clinician may suggest a different product, a timing change, or closer monitoring. Use only recommended doses of non-prescription products.

Arrange a review if readings rise after starting or changing a medicine, or if control becomes difficult. Get urgent help for severe chest pain, severe breathlessness, sudden weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, confusion, or collapse. These symptoms can occur with angina, heart failure, stroke, or transient ischaemic attack and need immediate assessment.

Ask whether any of your medicines can raise blood pressure, whether an alternative is suitable, how to monitor readings, and whether stopping or tapering is required. Ask about interactions with painkillers, cold remedies, and supplements.