Medication-Induced Hypertension: Causes, Risks, and What You Can Do

When you take a pill to treat one health issue, it shouldn’t make another one worse—but sometimes it does. Medication-induced hypertension, high blood pressure triggered by prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Also known as drug-induced high blood pressure, it’s not rare, and it’s often missed because it looks like ordinary hypertension. You might be taking something for depression, pain, or even allergies, and not realize it’s quietly raising your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

This isn’t just about one drug. It’s a pattern. Corticosteroids, like prednisone, used for inflammation and autoimmune conditions are a top offender—they cause fluid retention and make blood vessels more sensitive to stress hormones. MAOIs, a type of antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression, can trigger sudden, life-threatening spikes if you eat foods high in tyramine—like aged cheese, soy sauce, or draft beer. And it’s not just these two. Some decongestants, NSAIDs, even certain herbal supplements can nudge your numbers up. These aren’t side effects you can ignore. A systolic pressure over 180 isn’t just a number—it’s a warning sign that your heart, kidneys, or brain could be at risk.

What makes this tricky is that the rise in blood pressure often happens slowly. You don’t feel dizzy or get a headache. You just notice your old blood pressure cuff readings are higher than they used to be. If you’re on long-term steroids, taking an antidepressant, or using painkillers daily, your doctor should be checking your blood pressure every few months—not just once a year. And if you’ve been told your blood pressure is "just a little high," but you’re on one of these meds, ask: could this be the cause?

The good news? Once you know the trigger, you can often fix it. Switching meds, adjusting the dose, or making simple dietary changes can bring your numbers back down. You don’t have to live with high blood pressure just because you need another drug to stay healthy. The key is connecting the dots between what you’re taking and what your body is doing.

In the posts below, you’ll find real, practical breakdowns of the drugs most likely to cause this problem—and what to do about it. From how MAOIs interact with everyday foods to why corticosteroids affect blood sugar and pressure together, these guides give you the facts without the fluff. No guesswork. No jargon. Just what you need to protect your health while staying on the meds you need.