Best cough medicine for person with high blood pressure

One of the goals when you take drugs for high blood pressure is to be sure the medication is working effectively. One step toward achieving this goal is to avoid some medications. What kinds of problems might other drugs cause?

  • Some drugs can make blood pressure rise. If you have high blood pressure to begin with, it can rise to dangerous levels.
  • Some medications may interact with blood pressure medicine. This can prevent either drug from working properly.

Here are common types of medication that can make high blood pressure worse.

NSAIDs and High Blood Pressure

NSAIDs -- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- include both prescription and over-the-counter varieties. They are often used to relieve pain or reduce inflammation from conditions such as arthritis. However, NSAIDs can make the body retain fluid and decrease kidney function. This may cause blood pressure to rise even higher, putting greater stress on your heart and kidneys.

Common NSAIDs include:

  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen

You may also find NSAIDs in over-the-counter medication for other health problems. Cold medicine, for example, often contains NSAIDs. It's a good idea whenever you purchase an over-the-counter drug to check the label for NSAIDs. Ask your doctor if any NSAID is OK for you to use. Your doctor may be able to recommend alternatives, such as using acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen.

Blood Pressure and Cough and Cold Medications

Many cough and cold medications contain NSAIDs to relieve pain. NSAIDs may increase your blood pressure. Cough and cold medicines also frequently contain decongestants. Decongestants can make blood pressure worse in two ways:

  • Decongestants may make your blood pressure and heart rate rise.
  • Decongestants may prevent high blood pressure drugs from working properly.

What can you do? Avoid using cough and cold medicine that contains NSAIDs or decongestants. Ask your doctor for suggestions about other ways to ease symptoms of cold, flu, or sinus problems.

Migraine Headache Drugs and Blood Pressure

Some migraine headache drugs work by tightening blood vessels in your head. This relieves migraine pain. However, the medication also constricts blood vessels throughout your body. This can make blood pressure rise, perhaps to dangerous levels.

If you have high blood pressure or any other type of heart disease, talk with your doctor before taking medication for migraines or severe headaches.

Weight Loss Drugs Can Also Raise Blood Pressure

Some weight loss drugs may make heart disease worse. Appetite suppressants tend to "rev" up the body, increasing both the heart rate and the blood pressure. When the blood pressure rises, it can put more stress on your heart.

Before using any weight loss drug, whether prescription or over-the-counter, be sure to check with your doctor. These medications may do you more harm than good.

More Tips for Avoiding Medication Problems

Be sure any medications you choose to use are safe for people who have high blood pressure. These suggestions can help:

  • Give a list of ALL the medications you use, both prescription and over-the-counter, to every doctor you visit, including dosages.
  • Read medication labels before buying over-the-counter preparations. Make sure the medicine doesn't contain ingredients that could make your high blood pressure worse, such as NSAIDs or decongestants.
  • Talk to your doctor before using any over-the-counter medication, herbal preparation, vitamins, or other nutritional supplements. Ask for alternatives to potentially harmful medicines.

Safety Information

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking this product

Ingredients

Chlorpheniramine maleate, Dextromethorphan hydrobromide, croscarmellose sodium, D & C Red # 27 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone, talc, titanium dioxide

Directions

Do not exceed recommended dose. Adults and children above 12 years- 1 tablet every 6 hours(not more than 4 tablets in 24 hours)

Legal Disclaimer

Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.

As cold and flu season rages on, health experts are warning people with high blood pressure to think twice before popping or pouring over-the-counter medications to relieve their symptoms.

Decongestants, a common ingredient in cold and flu drugs, constrict blood vessels to help relieve congestion. And constricted blood vessels can temporarily raise blood pressure levels and reduce blood flow in people with poor circulation. Decongestants may also interfere with the effectiveness of prescribed blood pressure medication, the American Heart Association says.

"It's kind of a general thing that blood vessel constrictors are not a good idea for people with high blood pressure,” Sandra J. Taler, a professor of medicine and physician in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the Mayo Clinic, cautions. “And probably a lot of people don't know that.”

Oftentimes, however, it's not obvious what pills and syrups contain decongestants. If pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are listed as ingredients, the medicine contains a decongestant, Taler says. The letters “CF” or “D” on the box or bottle is another signal that a decongestant is present, she adds.

People with high blood pressure should also be cautious of cold medicine combinations containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs); Advil Cold & Sinus is one example. NSAIDs can counteract the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications, Taler explains.

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What to take if you have high blood pressure

So what can you turn to? Taler points to guaifenesin (Mucinex) as an option if you need to thin and clear mucus. And dextromethorphan (Robitussin) can be used to suppress coughs. Even with these, be sure to avoid the “CF” and “D” varieties. Some drug manufacturers also make cold medicines specifically for people with high blood pressure; these are usually marked with “HBP” on the package.

But Ian K. Smith, a physician and wellness author, suggests that with all the combination therapies and confusing trade and generic names, it's a good idea to make a quick call to your doctor's office, to make sure you're in the clear — both for blood pressure and other side effects. And be sure to pay attention to dosing instructions, as many cold and flu medicines reduce alertness.

"What people have to understand is that even good medications that are helpful and useful can have side effects,” Smith says. And all too often, “people don't think of over-the-counter meds as a concern,” Taler adds.

Smith stresses the importance of hand hygiene during cold and flu season, as well as exercise and a healthy diet. Rest and plenty of fluids also help kick a cold, Taler says.

What cough medicine can I take if I have high blood pressure?

What Cough Medicine Can I Take with High Blood Pressure? If you're looking for safe cough medicine, consider Coricidin HBP. This medicine is specifically manufactured to be safe for patients with high blood pressure. Nyquil also makes a cough syrup and liquid gel cap made for patients who have high blood pressure.

Can I take Robitussin with high blood pressure?

To keep your blood pressure in check, avoid over-the-counter decongestants and multisymptom cold remedies that contain decongestants — such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, naphazoline and oxymetazoline. Also, check the label for high sodium content, which can also raise blood pressure.

Can mucinex raise blood pressure?

No, Mucinex does not raise blood pressure. It does not have any ingredients that affect blood pressure. Therefore, it is considered safe in people with high blood pressure. But it is still recommended to consult a doctor if you want to take Mucinex.