• About
  • Recent Articles
  • Diseases
    • A – M
      • Cancer
        • Breast Cancer
        • Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma
      • Diabetes
      • Gastrointestinal
        • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) / Inflammable Bowel Disease (IBD)
        • Pseudomembranous Colitis
      • Immune Hemolytic Anemia (IHA)
      • Lupus
      • Mad Cow Disease
      • Measles
      • Mesothelioma
    • N – Z
      • Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NSF/NFD)
      • Pancreatitis
      • Parkinson’s Disease
      • Pneumonia
      • Psoriasis
      • Pulmonary
        • Aggravated Asthma
        • Pulmonary Vascular Disease
      • Rhabdomyolysis
      • Tuberculosis
  • Conditions
    • A – F
      • Achilles Tendon Rupture
      • Arthritis
      • Birth Defect
      • Blindness
        • Fungal Kerititis
        • NAION
      • Brain Damage
      • Cardiovascular
        • Arrhythmia
        • Drug-Induced Hypertension
        • Pulmonary Hypertension
        • Tachycardia
        • Valvular Heart Disease
      • Cholestasis
      • Depression
      • Eosinophilia
    • G – K
      • Gastrointestinal
        • Esophagitis
        • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) / Inflammable Bowel Disease (IBD)
      • Gynecomastia
      • Hallucinations
      • Hypoglycemia
      • Hyponatremia
      • Hypospadias
      • Hypothyroidism
      • Infertility
      • Ketoacidosis
      • Kidney Failure
      • Kidney Stone
    • L – R
      • Liver Damage
        • Drug-Induced Hepatitis
      • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
      • Obesity
      • Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Dead Jaw
      • Osteoporosis
      • Peripheral Neuropathy
      • Pneumonitis
      • Pulmonary Edema
    • S – Z
      • Serum Sickness
      • Sexual Dysfunction
      • Sleep Disorders / Sleep Disturbances
      • Stroke / Blood Clots
      • Stunted Growth
      • Tinnitus
      • Tremors
      • Uterine Rupture
      • Vitiligo
  • Disorders
    • Autism
    • Cardiovascular Disorder
    • Catatonia
    • Disorders of the Nervous System and Sensory Disorders
    • Epilepsy
    • Gastrointestinal Disorders
    • Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
    • Musculoskeletal Disorders
    • Reproductive Health/Congenital Disorders
  • Drugs
    • A – H
      • Actos
      • Accutane
      • Avandia
      • Azasan
      • Budesonide
      • Chantrix
      • Crestor
      • Darvon
      • Elspar
      • Extenze
      • Farxiga
      • Fosamax
    • I – S
      • Invokana
      • Jardiance
      • Ketek
      • Lipitor
      • Oxycodone
      • Painkillers
      • Pradaxa
      • Propecia
      • Risperdal
      • Seroquel
      • Singulair
      • SSRIs
    • T – Z
      • Toradol
      • Trasylol
      • Viagra
      • Warfarin
      • Xyrem
      • Zelnorm
      • Zicam
      • Zocor
      • Zofran
      • Zyvox
  • Legal Assistance

DiseasesAndConditions.net

Information on the common diseases and conditions that may result as an unintended side effect from the use of certain drugs and medical devices. Click here to obtain further information and contact us for an initial legal consultation.

Cardiovascular: Drug-Induced Hypertension, Heart Attack

September 14, 2007 By Diseases & Conditions

Normal blood pressure is less than 130 systolic (when the heart pumps blood) and 85 diastolic (when the heart is resting or in between beats). Hypertension is clinically defined as a systolic pressure consistently at 140 or higher and a diastolic pressure consistently at 90 or higher. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), 50 million Americans are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure, and another 15 million are undiagnosed.

Left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious complications, including:

  • Heart attacks
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Heart damage
  • Blood vessel damage
  • Stroke
  • Brain damage
  • Kidney damage
  • Loss of vision

Hypertension is a factor in 75 percent of all first strokes and 68 percent of all first heart attacks.

Blood pressure is determined by several factors, including:

  • The amount of blood that is pumped by the heart
  • The heart’s pumping power
  • The condition of the heart valves
  • The size and condition of the arteries
  • The volume of water in the body
  • Body weight and foods eaten
  • The condition of the kidneys, blood vessels, and nervous system
  • The levels of various hormones in the body

There are several kinds of high blood pressure. Essential hypertension occurs in most of us at some point in our lives and has no identifiable cause. Secondary hypertension occurs as the result of another disorder. Drug-induced hypertension is a type of secondary hypertension resulting as a response to medication.

Attempts to establish the cause of hypertension often include blood tests to determine the level of suspect medications, and a review of the patient’s medical history. Drug-induced or medication related hypertension can be caused by using a drug, medication or chemical substance. But it can also be caused by discontinuing the use of a drug or medication (also known as rebound hypertension).

Drugs and medications that can cause hypertension include:

  • Alcohol, ecstasy (MDMA and derivatives), amphetamines, and cocaine
  • Corticosteroids
  • Estrogens (including birth control pills such as Ortho Evra) and other hormones
  • Migraine medications
  • COX-2 inhibitors such as rofecoxib (VIOXX), celecoxib (CELEBREX), and valdecoxib (BEXTRA), which was pulled from the market in 2005
  • Cyclosporine
  • Erythropoietin (used to correct anemia related to chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, and HIV)
  • Nasal decongestants
  • Many over-the-counter medications such as cough, cold, and asthma medications, specially when combined with certain antidepressants like tricyclics and tranylcypromine
  • High blood pressure medications, such as clonidine). Also dangerous when a person discontinues taking them

Hypertension usually does not show any obvious symptoms. The following symptoms may appear if the hypertension is severe:

  • Chest pain
  • Tiredness
  • Confusion
  • Changes in vision
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Anxiety
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Shortness of breath
  • Red or pale skin
  • Muscle tremors

The objective or treatment for hypertension is to lower the risk of complications by reducing blood pressure below 140/90, or below 130/80 if the patient has diabetes or kidney disease.

If identified, the substance that caused the drug-induced hypertension is discontinued unless it is not advisable (as when clonidine is involved). Medical therapy for the primary condition may have to be adjusted.

To modify the blood pressure, the following drugs may be considered:

  • Diuretics
  • Beta blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Potassium replacements
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)
  • Doxazosin
  • Hydralazine
  • Prazosin

Following any treatment, the blood pressure should be monitored at regular intervals. A change in lifestyle, including weight loss, reduced sodium intake (including products containing salt, baking soda, and MSG), exercise, and reduced alcohol consumption may be recommended. Persistent high blood pressure levels will likely require regularly scheduled appointments with a physician. If any of the symptoms listed appear, the physician should be contacted immediately.

Special care will need to be taken before any substance or medication. A pharmacist or doctor should be consulted before taking any medication that may interact with medications already being taken.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Drug-Induced Hypertension

Recently Updated Drug Information

Opioid Epidemic

Methods of Fighting the Opioid Epidemic

According to a paper released by The Global Commission on Drug Policy, there are … Continue Reading

Popular Antibiotics Linked to Increased Risk of Aortic Dissection or Aneurysm

Blood is pumped from the heart to the rest of the body through the arteries. The … Continue Reading

SSRI Use in Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Autism

  New research, published on December 14, 2015, in JAMA Pediatrics … Continue Reading

Contact An Attorney

If you or a loved one is suffering from the side effects of medication or a medical device, or if you think you have been injured by a negligent medical professional, you may be able entitled to compensation. Get a free case evaluation by a qualified attorney.
  • * = Required
    Privacy Policy
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

RSS Recent US Recalls

  • Homegrown Family Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Shore Lunch Oven Style Breader & Batter Mix May 29, 2025
  • WeHwupe Adult Portable Bed Rails Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Entrapment and Asphyxiation Hazards; Violation of Federal Regulations for Adult Portable Bed Rails; Sold on Amazon.com and Walmart.com by WeHwupe Store May 29, 2025
  • The Step2 Company Recalls My First Snowman Toys Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Choking Hazard May 29, 2025

About DiseaseAndCondtions.net

Although there are many websites online that offer medical information related to diseases and conditions, many of them are overly verbose, overly technical, or over-run with advertisements.

DiseasesAndCondtions.net seeks to improve the information available online about diseases, conditions, and disorders, as well as, medications, drugs, and medical devices, as it relates to your health and your legal rights.

Please use the navigation at the top of the site to find the information you're looking for.

Recent Updates

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Tinnitus
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Rickets
  • Hypophosphatemia

Search

Disclaimer: The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical or legal advice, it is provided for educational purposes only.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in these topics is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. The information provided on this website is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by the use of this site. It is not stated or implied that a lawyer is certified as a specialist in any particular field of law. No results are guaranteed, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This site is informational, only, not dispositive; it is up to you to decide whether a particular lawyer is right for you. Contingency fee refers only to attorney’s fees; a client may incur or be liable for other costs or expenses. Use of this site is subject to your agreement to these
Altrumedia, LLC Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License · Site Map · Log in