Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure

Know which medicines and herbal remedies can affect your blood pressure.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Some medicines, supplements and other substances affect blood pressure. Some raise your blood pressure. Others make medicines you take to lower your blood pressure less effective. Some medicines that affect blood pressure are prescribed by your health care provider. Others are available without a prescription.

Here are some medicines, supplements and other substances that can raise blood pressure. If you use any of them and you're worried about how they affect your blood pressure, talk to your health care provider.

Pain medications

Some pain medicines cause the body to hold onto water. So do medicines that fight swelling in the body. Too much water in the body may create kidney problems and raise blood pressure. Examples include:

  • Indomethacin (Indocin).
  • Medicines available without a prescription such as aspirin (multiple doses a day), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
  • Piroxicam (Feldene).

Have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. Talk to your health care provider about which pain medicine is best for you. If you take a pain medicine that raises your blood pressure, lifestyle changes and additional medicines may help control your blood pressure.

Cold medicines, also called decongestants

Decongestants make blood vessels smaller. This makes it harder for blood to flow through the blood vessels. Sometimes that raises blood pressure. Decongestants also may make some blood pressure medicines not work as well. Examples of decongestants include:

  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed 24 Hour).
  • Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine).

Check the label of your cold or allergy medicine to see if it has a decongestant. If you have high blood pressure, it's best to stay away from decongestants. Ask your health care provider about cold products available without a prescription that are made for people with high blood pressure.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants work by changing the body's response to brain chemicals that affect mood. These chemicals also may raise blood pressure. Examples of antidepressants that can raise blood pressure include:

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
  • Tricyclic antidepressants.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

If you take antidepressants, have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure goes up or isn't well controlled, ask your health care provider about other medicines you could take.

Birth control with hormones

Birth control pills and some birth control devices contain hormones. These hormones may raise blood pressure by making some blood vessels smaller. This makes it harder for blood to flow. Most birth control pills, patches and other devices carry warnings that high blood pressure may be a side effect. The risk of high blood pressure is higher if you're older than age 35, overweight or a smoker.

Hormonal birth control may not raise blood pressure in all people. But if you're worried, have your blood pressure checked at least every six months.

If you already have high blood pressure, talk to your health care provider. Ask about using a different form of birth control. A birth control pill or device that has a lower dose of estrogen is less likely to raise blood pressure.

Caffeine

Caffeine can cause a short-term spike in blood pressure in people who don't use it all the time.

Caffeine helps to keep blood vessels open. This allows blood to easily pass through blood vessels. This may raise blood pressure for a short period of time. There isn't enough evidence to prove that caffeine raises blood pressure long term.

Examples of medicines and products with caffeine include:

  • Caffeine pills (Vivarin, NoDoz, others).
  • Coffee.
  • Energy drinks and other beverages.

The amount of caffeine in coffee varies widely. So it's difficult to say how many cups of coffee you can drink a day.

You can see if caffeine raises your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure about 30 minutes after drinking a cup of coffee or another beverage that has caffeine. If your blood pressure goes up by 5 to 10 points, you may be sensitive to caffeine's effect on blood pressure.

Herbal supplements

Remember to tell your health care provider about any herbal supplements you take. Ask about any supplements you're thinking about taking. Examples of herbal supplements that may affect your blood pressure or blood pressure medicines include:

  • Arnica (Arnica montana).
  • Ephedra (ma-huang).
  • Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, Panax ginseng).
  • Guarana (Paullinia cupana).
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Herbal supplements may not be safe just because they're natural. Check with your health care provider before taking any herbal supplements. You may need to avoid supplements that raise your blood pressure or make your blood pressure medicines less effective.

Biological therapies

Powerful medicines used in biological therapies can have side effects. One of those side effects is high blood pressure. Some of these medicines target specific cells. Others use the body's own immune system to fight some autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Angiogenesis inhibitors and some monoclonal antibodies may raise blood pressure. Examples of these medicines include:

  • Bevacizumab (Avastin).
  • Gefitinib (Iressa).
  • Imatinib (Gleevec).
  • Pazopanib (Votrient).
  • Ramucirumab (Cyramza).

Immunosuppressants

Most people who've had an organ transplant take immunosuppressants. These medicines help keep the body from rejecting the new organ. Some immunosuppressants can raise blood pressure. This may be due to the ways immunosuppressants affect the kidneys. Examples of immunosuppressants that can raise blood pressure include:

  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).
  • Tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Prograf, Envarsus XR).

Have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If your blood pressure goes up or isn't well controlled, ask your health care provider about other medicines you can take. Your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes or additional medicines to control your high blood pressure.

Stimulants

Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, others), can cause the heart to beat faster or unevenly. This may raise blood pressure.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly if you take a stimulant. If your blood pressure goes up or isn't well controlled, ask your health care provider about other medicines you can take. Lifestyle changes or additional medicines may help control your high blood pressure.

A caution on illegal drugs

Illegal drugs can raise blood pressure. They may narrow the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This raises heart rate and damages heart muscle.

Examples of illegal drugs that may affect your heart include:

  • Amphetamines, including methamphetamine.
  • Cocaine.
  • Ecstasy (MDMA).

If you're using illegal drugs, it's important to stop. Ask your health care provider for information on counseling or drug treatment programs.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

April 13, 2023 See more In-depth

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  3. Alpha blockers
  4. Amputation and diabetes
  5. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  6. Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  7. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  8. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  9. Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?
  10. AskMayoMom Pediatric Urology
  11. Beta blockers
  12. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  13. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  14. Birth control pill FAQ
  15. Blood glucose meters
  16. Blood glucose monitors
  17. Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm?
  18. Blood pressure chart
  19. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  20. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  21. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  22. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  23. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  24. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  25. Blood pressure test
  26. Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium
  27. Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch
  28. Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits
  29. Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more
  30. Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine
  31. Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight
  32. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons
  33. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how
  34. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
  35. How kidneys work
  36. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  37. Caffeine and hypertension
  38. Calcium channel blockers
  39. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  40. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  41. Central-acting agents
  42. Choosing blood pressure medications
  43. Chronic daily headaches
  44. Chronic kidney disease
  45. Chronic kidney disease: Is a clinical trial right for me?
  46. Coarctation of the aorta
  47. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  48. Cushing syndrome
  49. DASH diet
  50. DASH diet
  51. DASH diet: Recommended servings
  52. Sample DASH menus
  53. DASH diet: Shopping and cooking tips
  54. Diabetes
  55. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  56. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar
  57. Diabetes and foot care
  58. Diabetes and heat
  59. 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications
  60. Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?
  61. Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
  62. Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar?
  63. Diabetes and liver
  64. Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
  65. Diabetes: Eating out
  66. Diabetes nutrition: Sweets
  67. Diabetes symptoms
  68. Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
  69. Using insulin
  70. Diuretics
  71. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  72. Diuretics: Cause of gout?
  73. Dizziness
  74. Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
  75. Do you know your blood pressure?
  76. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  77. Eating right for chronic kidney disease
  78. High blood pressure and exercise
  79. Fibromuscular dysplasia
  80. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  81. Home blood pressure monitoring
  82. Glomerulonephritis
  83. Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?
  84. Guillain-Barre syndrome
  85. Headaches 101: Know your type
  86. Headaches and hormones
  87. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  88. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  89. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  90. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  91. High blood pressure and sex
  92. High blood pressure: Can you prevent it?
  93. High blood pressure dangers
  94. How does IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) cause kidney damage?
  95. How opioid addiction occurs
  96. How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
  97. What is hypertension? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  98. Hypertension FAQs
  99. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  100. Hypothermia
  101. I have IgA nephrology. Will I need a kidney transplant?
  102. IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
  103. Insulin and weight gain
  104. Intracranial hematoma
  105. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  106. What is kidney disease? An expert explains
  107. Kidney disease FAQs
  108. Kratom for opioid withdrawal
  109. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  110. Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?
  111. Lead poisoning
  112. Living with IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) and C3G
  113. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  114. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  115. Molar pregnancy
  116. MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?
  117. New Test for Preeclampsia
  118. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  119. Nosebleeds
  120. Obstructive sleep apnea
  121. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  122. Pain Management
  123. Pheochromocytoma
  124. Picnic Problems: High Sodium
  125. Pituitary tumors
  126. Polycystic kidney disease
  127. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  128. Porphyria
  129. Postpartum preeclampsia
  130. Preeclampsia
  131. Prescription drug abuse
  132. Primary aldosteronism
  133. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  134. Mayo Clinic Minute: Rattlesnakes, scorpions and other desert dangers
  135. Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do?
  136. Reading food labels
  137. Renal diet for vegetarians
  138. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  139. Scorpion sting
  140. Secondary hypertension
  141. Serotonin syndrome
  142. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  143. Sleep tips
  144. Vegetable recipes
  145. Blood sugar testing
  146. Snoring
  147. Snoring solution: Sleep on your side
  148. Spider bites
  149. Stress and headaches: Stop the cycle
  150. Stress and high blood pressure
  151. Symptom Checker
  152. Takayasu's arteritis
  153. Tapering off opioids: When and how
  154. Tetanus
  155. Tetanus shots: Is it risky to receive 'extra' boosters?
  156. The dawn phenomenon: What can you do?
  157. Infographic: Transplant for Polycystic Kidney Disease
  158. Understanding complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G)
  159. Understanding IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
  160. Vasodilators
  161. Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?
  162. Vesicoureteral reflux
  163. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  164. How diabetes affects your blood sugar
  165. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  166. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  167. Obstructive sleep apnea: What happens?
  168. What is blood pressure?
  169. Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  170. What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
  171. What's your high blood pressure risk?
  172. White coat hypertension
  173. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?
  174. Effectively managing chronic kidney disease