Heart Health High Blood Pressure Living With Drugs that Raise Blood Pressure: Advil, Aleve, and Other OTC Drugs Find Out About Common Medications that Affect Your Blood Pressure By Craig O. Weber, MD Updated on July 15, 2023 Medically reviewed by Anthony Pearson, MD Print If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you need to be aware of how popular over-the-counter (OTC) medications can affect it. For instance, Advil and Aleve may raise blood pressure along with some antacids and other commonly used drugs. While you may be successfully controlling your blood pressure with diet or anti-hypertension medication, certain drugs can throw off your blood pressure reading. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter medication or supplements. This article looks at common drug types that can raise blood pressure. It also discusses what they're typically used to treat and what you can try instead. Blood Pressure Chart With Readings By Age and Sex 1 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs frankieleon / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in the world. They're used to: Treat headachesReduce feverAt higher doses, alleviate pain and inflammation OTC NSAIDs include: Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) Aleve, Naprosyn (naproxen) While NSAIDs are typically safe, prolonged use can raise your blood pressure. There's research evidence that finds NSAIDs may increase cardiovascular risks, like heart attack and stroke, in some people. Long-term use of NSAIDs has also been linked to changes in kidney function. The kidneys play a key role in blood pressure regulation. Ask your healthcare provider about pain-relief options that may be safer for you. What Is the Safest Pain Reliever? All NSAIDs, except for aspirin, are linked to a higher risk of heart problems. Aspirin is an option but it increases the risk of bleeding, so it's not for everyone. In addition, acetaminophen is another popular pain reliever. However, it may also raise blood pressure. Work with your healthcare provider to discuss options for pain management and safe pain relief medications. Advil and Aleve: What's the Difference? 2 Nasal Decongestants Tom Merton / Getty Images Decongestants slow the production of mucus, which can clog breathing passages. They do this by constricting blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. That opens airways and makes you feel less stuffed up from colds or allergies. Most decongestants contain either: PseudoephedrinePhenylephrine Those are both stimulants known to increase blood pressure. When used short-term, decongestants are largely safe and effective. But overuse may raise blood pressure and undermine your treatment. Look for non-stimulant decongestants, which may be just as effective for certain nasal conditions. 3 Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Remedies Jupiterimages / Getty Images Dozens of combination pills, syrups, and tablets are marketed for cold and flu symptoms. Each has a different blend of similar ingredients. These include: Decongestants NSAIDs or Tylenol (acetaminophen) Cough suppressants Constricted blood vessels and fluid retention are effects of these drugs when taken together. They can cause short-term blood pressure increases and make your treatment less effective. All About Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Drugs 4 Hormonal Birth Control PhotoAlto / Getty Images Virtually all hormonal birth control pills, patches, and devices can raise blood pressure. Blood vessel constriction is a common side effect of these products. They often have a larger effect on women who smoke, are overweight, or are over age 35. Oral contraceptives with lower-dose estrogen may have lesser effects on blood pressure. If you still have a problem while taking these, you may need to consider other forms of birth control. Increased Monitoring Not all women are affected by hormonal birth control. But if you have hypertension, your healthcare provider will likely want to monitor you closely. Ideally, you should get checked every six to 12 months. 9 Non-Hormonal Birth Control Options 5 Antidepressant Drugs Jonathan Nourok / Getty Images Antidepressants change the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) tied to mood. They include: Serotonin Norepinephrine Dopamine These drugs increase your levels of adrenaline and other stimulating hormones. That can increase blood pressure. Dopamine is even used in emergencies to raise critically low blood pressure. Several antidepressant classes are linked to increased blood pressure, such as: Tricyclics: Amitriptyline, doxepin, Norpramin (desipramine) SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) 410 SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors): Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), Savella (milnacipran) MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors): Emsam (selegiline), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Nardil (phenelzine) Ups and Downs of MAOIs MAOIs alone can lower your blood pressure, but they can lead to dangerously high blood pressure when combined with certain foods or medications. Avoid mixing it with the following:Aged and fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, cured meats, soy sauce, and tofu)Acetaminophen or aspirinDobutamine (heart medicine)Isoniazid (antibiotic)Many stimulants How Much OTC Medication Is Safe? If your blood pressure is in the normal range, a normal dosage of OTC medication should not increase it enough to be a concern. However, for those who normally have high blood pressure, even a small amount of OTC medication may be dangerous. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have high blood pressure and need to take OTC medication that may raise it. Summary Drugs that increase blood pressure either constrict blood vessels, increase fluid retention, or raise hormone levels. Use care with NSAIDs, decongestants, combination cold and flu medicines, hormonal birth control, and antidepressants. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Barcella CA, Lamberts M, McGettigan P, Fosbøl EL, Lindhardsen J, Torp-Pedersen C, et al. Differences in cardiovascular safety with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy-A nationwide study in patients with osteoarthritis. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019 May;124(5):629-641. doi:10.1111/bcpt.13182. Harvard Health. "Heart-safer NSAID alternatives." Ruschitzka F, Borer JS, Krum H, et al. Differential blood pressure effects of ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib in patients with arthritis: the PRECISION-ABPM (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Celecoxib Integrated Safety Versus Ibuprofen or Naproxen Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement) Trial. Eur Heart J. 2017;38(44):3282-3292. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehx508 American Academy of Family Physicians. Decongestants: OTC relief for congestion. American Heart Association. High blood pressure and women. Calvi A, Fischetti I, Verzicco I, et al. Antidepressant drugs effects on blood pressure. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021;8:704281. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2021.704281 Edinoff AN, Swinford CR, Odisho AS, et al. Clinically Relevant Drug Interactions with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. Health Psychol Res. 2022;10(4):39576. Published 2022 Nov 3. doi:10.52965/001c.39576 By Craig O. Weber, MD Craig O. Weber, MD, is a board-certified occupational specialist who has practiced for over 36 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit