Medications, Supplements, and Illegal Drugs That Can Increase Blood Pressure

There are many factors that contribute to the increase in blood pressure. Certain medications, supplements, and illegal drugs have been shown to increase blood pressure in users, which also increases a person's risk of developing heart disease.

Why High Blood Pressure Is Dangerous
High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, has a very negative effect on the heart. It causes the arteries to narrow, making the heart work harder in order to pump blood through the arteries. The increased strain on the heart wears it down sooner than normal and contributes to coronary heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow. Once the arteries are narrowed, the flow of blood to the heart decreases and encourages the formation of clots within the arteries. These clots block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When the heart is not receiving enough oxygen, a heart attack can occur.

A normal reading for an adult is less than 120 (systolic) / 80 (diastolic). An individual is considered to have high blood pressure when his reading is 140/90 or above. Anything over 120/80 and under 140/90 puts a person in a pre-hypertension, or risk, category.

Medications and High Blood Pressure
Certain prescription and over the counter medications also contribute to high blood pressure. One common medication that can increase blood pressure is cold and flu medications. These over the counter medicines commonly contain decongestants, which have been proven to not only raise blood pressure, but interfere with high blood pressure medication as well. Common decongestants found in cold and flu medications that increase risk of high blood pressure include pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.

The main purpose of a decongestant is to reduce pressure in the nasal passages. This is done by restricting the blood vessels in the nose. However, this restriction also passes to blood vessels throughout the body. When this happens, the blood pressure in patients who already have high blood pressure raises even more, posing an even higher threat. It should be noted, however, that this spike in blood pressure is temporary and subsides a few hours after taking the decongestant.

Some prescription drugs have also been linked to an increase in blood pressure. One group of drugs that has been found to raise blood pressure is antidepressants. Wellbutrin, Nopramin, and Nardil have all been linked to higher levels of blood pressure. In addition, Ritalin, an ADD drug, and Meridia, a weight-control drug, have been linked to an increase in blood pressure.

Supplements and High Blood Pressure
Many people assume that just because a product is "herbal" or "all natural" that it is safe for the body. This is not always the case. Certain herbal supplements have been linked to an increase in blood pressure or have been shown to interfere with blood pressure medication. Some of these supplements include ephedra, gingseng, bitter orange, and St. John's Wort. Before taking any kind of herbal supplement, it's important to first check with your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe to consume.

Illegal Drugs and High Blood Pressure
Illegal drugs are dangerous for a number of reasons, and many of them contribute to high blood pressure and heart failure. In particular, injected drugs (such as heroine) and cocaine have proven to cause high blood pressure. These drugs impair the central nervous system and cause the heart to pound at an extremely accelerated rate, resulting in high blood pressure.

In order to prevent the increase in blood pressure from medications and supplements, discuss with your doctor the safety of the medicine you're taking. And if you're taking illegal drugs, it's important to seek treatment as these are particularly deadly.