Tylenol, Ibuprofen Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women

[Guest guest]

I just read this article and wonder about the change in my blood

pressure. It had always been low normal until recently when the top

number began going up into the 130's. My endo prescribed a mild Ace

Inhibitor, but last night when I checked it at Walmart, it was still

131/71.

Lately I've been taking Tylenol instead of Celebrex, since my insurance

company took Celebrex off their formulary. Now I'm wondering if the

Tylenol is what is increasing my BP. I can't remember exactly when the

higher BP started, but I think it was before I started taking Tylenol.

In fact, I remember now that I mentioned it to my endo six months ago.

So I don't know what the culprit is. He said it was the same reason

that his beard has become gray. Everytime I see him, he accuses me of

being old, LOL.

Sue

Original page:

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/110/109541.htm

Tylenol, Ibuprofen Linked to High Blood Pressure in Women

By DeNoon

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Monday, August 15, 2005

Aug. 15, 2005 -- The pills in your medicine cabinet may be raising your

blood pressure.

Women who take a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) have nearly twice the

risk of high blood pressure as those who don't use the drug. Those who

take a lot of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) up their

risk by as much as 78%.

The study did not link aspirin to high blood pressure in women.

However, there was a trend toward more high blood pressure in women who

frequently used aspirin.

The findings come from two studies that collected detailed information

on more than 5,000 registered nurses aged 34 to 77. Harvard researcher

P. Forman, MD, says the findings mean women should think twice

about taking common pain relievers.

" We are by no means suggesting that women with chronic pain conditions

not receive treatment for their pain, " Forman tells WebMD. " These

medications, by virtue of their availability over the counter, are

viewed as being safe or without risk. By pointing out risks associated

with these drugs, [we hope] more informed choices can be made by women

and their doctors. "

The Headache Factor

In earlier studies, Forman's team found a link between the use of

common painkillers and high blood pressure. However, it wasn't clear

whether one major reason for taking the drugs -- headache -- was itself

behind the link to high blood pressure.

The current study finds that whether or not a woman suffered from

headaches, the drugs still increased her risk of high blood pressure.

The study, which appears in the September issue of Hypertension, lumped

ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar drugs into a single category: NSAIDs.

About 80% of the women using NSAIDs were taking ibuprofen. Taking more

than 400 milligrams of NSAIDs per day upped the risk of high blood

pressure by 78% in older women and by 60% in younger women.

Daily use of more than 500 milligrams of acetaminophen raised the risk

of high blood pressure by 93% in older women and by 99% in younger

women.

Using 'Greater Caution'

Using 'Greater Caution'

" High blood pressure affects about one in three adults in the U.S., "

Forman says. " As the two most frequently used drugs in this country,

acetaminophen and NSAIDs may substantially contribute to the disease

burden of high blood pressure. On an individual level ... these agents

should be used with greater caution. "

What does " greater caution " mean? ce S. Sperling, MD, director of

the risk reduction program at Emory Heart Center in Atlanta, says it

means that people can't just pop pills without thinking about the

consequences.

" Medicines we can buy over the counter and use without a doctor's

advice may not be as safe as we think, " Sperling tells WebMD. " People

think Tylenol, especially, is pretty innocuous. We have to realize that

any substance has risks if we use it on a regular basis. "

So what's a person with pain supposed to do?

" What I tell people is we have to look at what's right for you, "

Sperling says. " If we can find something else that is safer, great. If

not, we have to accept a higher risk because quality of life is part of

the equation. The risk here is not phenomenal. It is not as if taking

these drugs guarantees you will have a heart attack or stroke. "

SOURCES: Forman, J.P. Hypertension, September 2005; vol 46: pp 1-8.

P. Forman, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical

School, Boston. ce S. Sperling, MD, director, risk reduction

program, Emory Heart Center, Atlanta.

© 2005 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.