Heart Health High Blood Pressure Living With 5 Common Drugs That Could Increase Blood Pressure By Craig O. Weber, MD Craig O. Weber, MD Craig O. Weber, MD, is a board-certified occupational specialist who has practiced for over 36 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 21, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, is a board-certified preventive cardiologist and lipidologist. Dr. Ali is also an award-winning writer. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print You may be taking a medication that lowers the effectiveness of your blood pressure drugs. Several popular over-the-counter (OTC) remedies do that. Proper blood pressure control is important for your health. So it's wise to key an eye on your numbers if you're taking anything that could cause a problem. This article looks at five drugs that can make your hypertension (high blood pressure) worse. 1 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs frankieleon / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in the world. They're used to: Treat headachesReduce feverAt higher doses, alleviate pain and inflammation While NSAIDs are typically safe, prolonged use can raise your blood pressure. Long-term use has also been linked to changes in kidney function. The kidneys play a key role in blood pressure regulation. OTC NSAIDs include: Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) Aleve, Naprosyn (naproxen) Ask your healthcare provider about pain-relief options that may be safer for you. NSAIDs can cause your body to retain sodium and water. Over time, that can lead to increased blood pressure. Advil and Aleve: What's the Difference? 2 Nasal Decongestants Tom Merton / Getty Images Decongestants slow the production of mucus, which can clog breathing passages. They do this by constricting blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. That opens airways and makes you feel less stuffed up from colds or allergies. Most decongestants contain either: Pseudoephedrine Phenylephrine Those are both stimulants known to increase blood pressure. When used short-term, decongestants are largely safe and effective. But overuse may raise blood pressure and undermine your treatment. Look for non-stimulant decongestants, which may be just as effective for certain nasal conditions. 3 Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Remedies Jupiterimages / Getty Images Dozens of combination pills, syrups, and tablets are marketed for cold and flu symptoms. Each has a different blend of similar ingredients. These include: Decongestants NSAIDs or Tylenol (acetaminophen) Cough suppressants The combined effect of these drugs is constricted blood vessels and fluid retention. They can cause short-term blood pressure increases and make your treatment less effective. All About Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Drugs 4 Hormonal Birth Control PhotoAlto / Getty Images Virtually all hormonal birth control pills, patches, and devices can raise blood pressure. Blood-vessel constriction is a common side effect of these products. They often have a larger effect on women who smoke, are overweight, or are over age 35. Oral contraceptives with lower-dose estrogen may have lesser effects on blood pressure. If you still have a problem while taking these, you may need to consider other forms of birth control. Increased Monitoring Not all women are affected by hormonal birth control. But if you have hypertension, your healthcare provider will likely want to monitor you closely. Ideally, you should get checked every six to 12 months. Non-Hormonal Birth Control Options 5 Antidepressant Drugs Jonathan Nourok / Getty Images Antidepressants change the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) tied to mood. They include: Serotonin Norepinephrine Dopamine These drugs increase your levels of adrenaline and other stimulating hormones. That can increase blood pressure. Dopamine is even used in emergencies to raise critically low blood pressure. Several antidepressant classes are linked to increased blood pressure, such as: Tricyclics: Amitriptyline, doxepin, Norpramin (desipramine) SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors): Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), Savella (milnacipran) MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)*: Emsam (selegiline), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine) Ups and Downs of MAOIs *MAOIs alone can lower your blood pressure. But they can lead to dangerously high blood pressure when combined with:Aged and fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, cured meats, soy sauce, and tofu)Acetaminophen or aspirin The heart medicine dobutamine The antibiotic isoniazidMany stimulants Summary Drugs that increase blood pressure either constrict blood vessels, increase fluid retention, or raise hormone levels. Use care with NSAIDs, decongestants, combination cold and flu medicines, hormonal birth control, and antidepressants. A Word From Verywell If you take any of these OTC drugs, talk to your healthcare provider about your risk of hypertension. You may want to check your blood pressure at home until you know how the medication affects you. If your blood pressure is high, you may need to switch drugs, lower your dosage, or add/increase the dosage of an anti-hypertensive drug. Frequently Asked Questions How much can OTC medication raise your blood pressure? If your blood pressure is in the normal range, OTC medication should not increase it enough to be a concern.If you normally have high blood pressure, though, OTC medication may take it to a dangerous level. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have high blood pressure and need to take OTC medication that may raise it. What are normal blood pressure numbers? Normal blood pressure range = below 120/below 80 mmHgPrehypertensive range = between 120-139/between 80-89Hypertensive range = 140 or higher/90 or higherHypertensive crisis = above 180/above 120 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your high blood pressure? Our nutrition guide can help. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Grossman E, Messerli FH. Drug-induced hypertension: an unappreciated cause of secondary hypertension. Am J Med. 2012;125(1):14-22. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2011.05.024 National Kidney Foundation. Watch out for your kidneys when you use medicines for pain. American Academy of Family Physicians. Decongestants: OTC relief for congestion. American Heart Association. High blood pressure and women. Calvi A, Fischetti I, Verzicco I, et al. Antidepressant drugs effects on blood pressure. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021;8:704281. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2021.704281 American Heart Association. Understanding over-the-counter (OTC) medications and high blood pressure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure symptoms and causes.