Do you know that drugs can cause high blood pressure? | National Hypertension Day

1. Case Introduction

The patient, a 42-year-old male, had undergone surgery for a pituitary tumor for more than half a year and had been taking prednisone acetate tablets regularly. In the past three months, the patient's blood pressure monitoring found that his blood pressure values ​​had gradually increased. The patient suspected that the increase in blood pressure was related to his taking prednisone acetate tablets, and consulted the pharmacy clinic. Can drugs cause high blood pressure? What drugs will cause this situation? How to deal with it?

2. Drug-induced hypertension

Some drugs can cause high blood pressure, which is a side effect of the drug, called drug-induced hypertension. Drug-induced hypertension is caused by the regular dose of the drug itself or the interaction between the drug and other drugs, and is considered drug-induced hypertension when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mmHg. In simple terms, when some drugs are used reasonably to treat diseases, they may induce high blood pressure.

3. Common drugs that cause drug-induced hypertension

Drugs that may cause drug-induced hypertension mainly include: ⑴ Hormonal drugs, such as estrogen (estradiol, nilestradiol, ethinylestradiol, etc.), progesterone (such as medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethindrone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, etc.), androgen (methyltestosterone, nandrolone phenylpropionate, stanozolol, etc.), oxytocin, posterior pituitary hormone, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, thyroxine sodium, etc. ⑵ Drugs that affect sympathetic nerve excitability, such as anesthetics (ketamine, sevoflurane, cocaine, etc.), anti-parkinsonian drugs (levodopa), adrenergic β2 receptor agonists (salbutamol, bambuterol, terbutaline, etc.), theophylline (aminophylline, doxofylline, dihydroxypropyltheophylline, etc.). ⑶ Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as indomethacin, ibuprofen, and ericoxib, etc. ⑷ Chinese herbal medicines, such as licorice (diammonium glycyrrhizinate, compound licorice tablets, etc.), ephedrine (ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops, compound pseudoephedrine hydrochloride sustained-release capsules, etc.). ⑸ Others, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, recombinant human erythropoietin, cyclosporine and immunosuppressants.

4. Treatment of drug-induced hypertension

In principle, once it is confirmed that hypertension is related to medication, such drugs should be discontinued as much as possible and replaced with other drugs or antihypertensive drugs should be used. When drug-induced hypertension occurs, first consult a specialist whether the corresponding drug can be discontinued. If the condition permits, discontinue the drug; if the drug cannot be discontinued, consult whether other types of alternative drugs can be used; when discontinuation or replacement of drugs does not work, antihypertensive drugs should be used for antihypertensive treatment as appropriate. For hypertension induced by different drugs, the preferred antihypertensive drugs are different due to different mechanisms. If you have any needs, you can consult in the comment area.

Conclusion

When taking drugs that may increase blood pressure, regular blood pressure monitoring should be performed. If blood pressure is found to be elevated, appropriate treatment should be given in a timely manner.