Alternative Names medication-induced hypertension, drug-induced high blood pressure
Definition Drug-induced hypertension is an abnormally high blood pressure that has been brought on by a drug or medication.
What is going on in the body? High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other problems. Medications sometimes cause hypertension. In these cases, the hypertension is usually mild and reversible.
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition? Most of the time, high blood pressure does not cause symptoms. When it is dangerously high, it may cause:
What are the causes and risks of the condition? There are several common drugs that can lead to high blood pressure. These include:
birth control pills
alcohol
cocaine, amphetamines and other stimulant medications
corticosteroids
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
some types of nasal decongestant medications
What can be done to prevent the condition? This type of reaction to a medication is rarely predictable. Therefore, the resulting high blood pressure cannot be avoided. Once a person knows that a drug causes their blood pressure to rise, that medication should not be used. Certain drugs such as cocaine almost always cause increased blood pressure. These substances should be avoided, especially by people with other medical problems.
How is the condition diagnosed? The condition is usually discovered when a person's blood pressure is elevated. The doctor must then determine if the high blood pressure is the result of a medication. In some cases, this requires further testing. Another approach is for the person to stop taking the suspected medication to see if blood pressure returns to normal.
What are the long-term effects of the condition? The high blood pressure usually goes away without causing long-term problems once the medication is discontinued. A drug reaction that causes extremely high blood pressure is usually associated with the abuse of stimulants ("uppers") or illegal street drugs. These cases can result in heart attack, stroke, other organ damage, or death.
What are the risks to others? There are no risks to others.
What are the treatments for the condition? Blood pressure will usually return to normal when the medication is stopped. In some cases, it may be dangerous for the individual to discontinue the medication responsible for the high blood pressure because of another medication condition he or she has. These people can be treated with drugs to lower blood pressure.
What are the side effects of the treatments? If a drug has to be discontinued because of high blood pressure, the condition it was prescribed to treat may worsen or return. Additional medications used to treat high blood pressure may cause side effects of their own. These can induce allergic reaction, stomach upset, and other symptoms depending upon the drug.
What happens after treatment for the condition? Once the drug is stopped and blood pressure returns to normal, further treatment is generally unnecessary.
How is the condition monitored? Repeat blood pressure measurements can be used to monitor the condition until it goes away.
Author: Reviewer: HealthAnswers Australia Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr David Taylor, Chief Medical Officer HealthAnswers Australia Last Updated: 1/10/2001 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
