Hypertension: Medications That Cause High Blood Pressure

Occasionally, medications are the cause of high blood pressure. Some of these medications include:

• Amphetamines
• Ritalin
• Corticosteroids (synthetic hormones, including prednisone)
• Hormones such as estrogen and birth control pills
• Migraine medications
• Cyclosporine, a drug that organ transplant patients take to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplant
• Erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells and is used to treat anemia caused by chronic diseases

In addition, many over-the-counter medications -- including cough and cold medications that contain the decongestants pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, asthma medications, and appetite suppressants -- can cause hypertension.

Also, drinking alcohol and products that contain caffeine and using illegal drugs may also raise blood pressure.

Furthermore, some drugs that you take for hypertension may actually make the hypertension worse if you stop taking the drug suddenly. Thus, it is recommended that anti-hypertensive medications not be stopped without consulting with your doctor.

How Do I Tell if a Medication Is Causing Hypertension?

Your doctor can determine if any medications you are taking are having an effect on your blood pressure. Tell your doctor about all of the medications and substances you take, including over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, any herbal medications, and recreational drugs.

What Is the Treatment for Medication Induced Hypertension?

If a particular medication is causing hypertension, you may have to stop taking it. If it isn't practical to discontinue that drug, your doctor may have to adjust the dosage of the medication.

In order to prevent these potential problems, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you use any drug or substance to learn if it may cause hypertension, and how it might interact with other drugs you're taking.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.