If you have high blood pressure and purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, you may be getting more than you bargained for.
That’s the word from experts who caution that some medications taken over-the-counter can have a negative impact on blood pressure. If patients are unknowingly taking medications that elevate blood pressure, it could undermine efforts to keep blood pressure in a safe range.
The First Step
Dory Jarzabkowski, DO, a cardiologist with Advocate Medical Group who is on the medical staff at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois, said the first step is for people with high blood pressure to know which products could cause variations in blood pressure. Cold medicines, painkillers, and energy pills or drinks are a few products to watch out for if you have high blood pressure.
“It’s important for patients to be aware of the things that we know can cause blood pressure to elevate,” Dr. Jarzabkowski said. She advised that these products should be avoided, used with caution, used only for a short amount of time, or used after a discussion with a medical professional.
Tips on Using OTCs
People with hypertension should educate themselves before taking over-the-counter medicines. Some things to consider include:
- Chat with a doctor: Dr. Jarzabkowski cautions that people who have high blood pressure need to tell their doctors about any over-the-counter medicine they are taking or have taken recently.
- Be a label reader: Medication labels should be scrutinized as thoroughly as food labels. Patients should use increased vigilance in cooler months because when temperatures drop, colds become more common.
Look for cold medicines labeled as safe for people with high blood pressure. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, which may increase blood pressure, are key ingredients to avoid. - Skip the salt: A top ingredient to avoid in medications, same as in food, is salt, which may increase blood pressure due to fluid retention. On the ingredient label, it may be listed as “salt,” “sodium,” or “soda.”
- Avoid highly caffeinated products: Caffeine raises blood pressure and impacts heart rate. According to Dr. Jarzabkowski, this effect is especially intense if you’re not used to it. She recommends that people with high blood pressure avoid high-caffeine energy drinks.
- Ask before using painkillers: Patients should also use caution and speak to their doctors before using common painkillers, such as the class of drugs known as NSAIDs, which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
This class includes prescribed medicines as well as over-the-counter aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). NSAIDs are associated with increased risks for people with heart disease and its risk factors. In addition, “Not only can these medicines affect blood pressure, but at higher doses they can cause kidney damage,” Dr. Jarzabkowski said. Since high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease, this makes adding NSAIDs a bigger health risk. - Know the numbers: Those with moderately elevated or high blood pressure should monitor it regularly, particularly when taking new medications.
“People taking these types of medications should monitor their blood pressure at home to make certain it is staying within the range recommended by their doctor,” Dr. Jarzabkowski said. “If there is a sharp increase and it’s consistently over 140/90, then they need to speak to their doctor.”
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center sponsors a free blood pressure kiosk at Eastland Mall in Bloomington that can help you “know your numbers.” You can also learn more about blood pressure and heart disease online at www.heart.org/HBP or at www.iheartadvocate.com.
For an appointment with Dr. Jarzabkowski or another Advocate Medical Group physician, call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE.