If you have high blood pressure, you probably pay attention to salt, exercise, stress, and your prescribed medication.
But there is another factor that is surprisingly easy to overlook: the medicines in your cabinet.
Some common prescription medicines, over-the-counter pain relievers, cold remedies, and supplements can raise blood pressure or interfere with medicines used to control it.
That doesn’t mean you should suddenly stop taking medication. Instead, knowing which products deserve extra caution can help you have a safer conversation with your doctor or pharmacist.
- NSAID Pain Relievers
Common painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen belong to a group called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.
They’re widely used for headaches, arthritis, back pain, muscle aches, and inflammation.
However, NSAIDs can cause the body to retain water, affect kidney function, and increase blood pressure in some people.
Examples include:
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Naproxen (Aleve)
Indomethacin
Piroxicam
The concern can be greater if you already have hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease, or take certain blood-pressure medications.
If you frequently need pain medication, ask your healthcare professional which option is most appropriate for you rather than simply relying on an OTC product.
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- Decongestants for Colds and Sinus Problems
This is one of the biggest categories to watch.
Many cold, flu, allergy, and sinus products contain decongestants.
Common ingredients include:
Pseudoephedrine
Phenylephrine
Decongestants work partly by narrowing blood vessels. Unfortunately, that same effect can cause blood pressure to rise.
Mayo Clinic specifically advises people with severe or uncontrolled hypertension not to take decongestants without appropriate medical guidance.
The tricky part is that these ingredients may be hidden inside combination products marketed for multiple cold or flu symptoms.
Always check the active ingredients.
- Some Antidepressants
Certain antidepressants can also affect blood pressure.
Mayo Clinic notes that antidepressants can change the body’s response to brain chemicals that influence mood and blood pressure. Some classes have been associated with increases in blood pressure.
This doesn’t mean someone with hypertension cannot take an antidepressant.
These medicines can be extremely important treatments.
