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Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure

Pain medications
Cold medicines (decongestants)
Hormonal birth control
A caution on illegal drugs
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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Medicines for a stuffy nose, called decongestants
Antidepressants
Birth control with hormones
Caffeine
Herbal supplements
Biological therapies
Immunosuppressants
Stimulants
Illicit drugs

Medicines for a stuffy nose, called decongestants

Decongestants narrow blood vessels. This can reduce swelling in the nose area and other parts of the body. But it's harder for blood to go through a narrowed blood vessel. So blood pressure can go up. Decongestants are found in many cold and allergy medicines. Watch for any of these ingredients:

  • Pseudoephedrine.
  • Phenylephrine.

If you have high blood pressure, it's best to stay away from decongestants. If you have a stuffy nose, choose a cold or allergy medicine that says it's made for people with high blood pressure.