Drug-induced hypertension

Alternative names:

hypertension - medication related

Definition:

A disorder characterized by high blood pressure; caused by a response to using, or stopping the use of, a chemical substance, drug, or medication.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by the heart, the pumping power of the heart, the condition of the heart valves, and the size and condition of the arteries. Many other factors can affect blood pressure, including the volume of water in the body; salt content of the body; condition of the kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels; and levels of various hormones in the body. Caucasian men, and Blacks of both sexes have a higher incidence of significant hypertension.

Essential hypertension has no identifiable cause. Secondary hypertension is hypertension that occurs because of another disorder. Drug-induced hypertension is a form of secondary hypertension caused by a response to medication. Examples include using substances such as alcohol or medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine, estrogen (including birth control pills), nasal decongestants, corticotropin or other hormones, sympathomimetic medications (found in many over-the-counter medications such as cough/cold medications and medications for asthma) particularly when the cough/cold medicine is taken by a person who also takes tranylcypromine or tricyclic antidepressants, and others. Drug-induced hypertension can also be a result of stopping the use of antihypertensive medications such as clonidine. This is called rebound hypertension.