Evelyn’s GP is happy with her progress – her blood pressure is below the target level of 140/90 mmHg, her ankle swelling has resolved and her U&Es remain within the normal range.
Evelyn has been put on a repeat prescription for:
- Amlodipine 5mg once a day
- Ramipril 10mg once a day
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Evelyn: While I’m here, could I have some ibuprofen for my sore knees, please?
Counter Pharmacist: What strength would you like?
Evelyn: The strongest you have please
Counter Pharmacist: What other medication are you taking at the moment?
Evelyn: Just the tablets for my blood pressure
Counter Pharmacist: What strength would you like?
Evelyn: Let me check with the pharmacist to make sure it’s okay to take these.
Pharmacist: I’m sorry, you can’t take ibuprofen with the medication you are taking for your blood pressure. It might increase your blood pressure. You could try paracetamol instead.
Evelyn: Oh, okay, I didn’t realise I couldn’t take ibuprofen with my other medicines. Could I have some paracetamol then please?
Pulse point
There are a number of medicines and foods that can affect blood pressure or interact with antihypertensive drugs. It is important to advise anyone who has high blood pressure to check with their doctor or pharmacist before they take any other medicines.
Some common examples of over-the-counter medicines that should be avoided by someone who is taking antihypertensive medication or has high blood pressure include:
Cetirizine: antihistamines can increase blood pressure and interact with blood pressure medications.
Solpadol: there is 387.97 mg of sodium per effervescent tablet. This means that 8 tablets a day is equivalent to taking 3g sodium salt. This is 50% of the adult daily recommendation. People with hypertension should be on a low sodium diet.
St John’s Wort: SJW can increase blood pressure and interact with blood pressure medicines.
Pseudoephedrine: decongestants such as pseudoephedrine can make blood pressure worse by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, and stopping blood pressure drugs working effectively.
Caffeine: caffeine-containing medicines (including some analgesics, migraine remedies and stimulants). Caffeine can produce a short term increase in blood pressure, which is more pronounced in people who already have high blood pressure. Note that high levels of caffeine are also found in Irn Bru and other high-energy drinks.
Ibuprofen: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can adversely affect blood pressure. Possible mechanisms for this include attenuation of prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation, promotion of sodium retention, and increased vascular resistance.
Page last reviewed: 17 Sep 2020
