Re: Methotrexate and hypertension question

March 19, 2008

my blood pressure raises just before I go through a major flare, whether I'm on

mtx, enbrel or pred.

[ ] Methotrexate and hypertension question

I am 39 years old and until a few months ago my blood pressure normally ran

about 100/60. For the past two weeks I have been having a severe 24 hour a day,

7 days a week headache and my blood pressure is running about 130-150 over

90-100. My blood pressure was also elevated about a month and a half ago, but

not to this degree.

The only thing that has changed from six months ago is that I am on 20mg

methotrexate. Has anyone had increased blood pressure as a side effect of

methotrexate?

I have a host of other issues that could cause hypertension such as

hypothyroidism, family history, depo medrol injections, etc. so it may not be

the methotrexate. I did skip my dose this past week due to a skin infection and

the pressure is down somewhat (probably due to the fact that I have been running

to the bathroom to urinate every hour for the past 24 hours). I was just

wondering if this could be a coincidence or not. Googling the issue didn't

really provide much in the way of answers- most of the hypertension reported

with methotrexate was in patients being treated for cancer at much higher doses.

~Marie

March 19, 2008

Dear Marie,

I have had to start antihypertensive medications since being diagnosed with RA

and

starting medications. I don't know is MTX causes HTN but prednisone sure does.

Are

you taking steroids?

March 19, 2008

Hi Marie,

Sorry forgot to mention the high BP might also have to do with inflammation.

March 19, 2008

It is common for people who are still hypo to have high blood

pressure. Mine went down with proper thyroid replacement.

Kate G

Hashi's

AS

At 09:15 AM 3/19/2008, you wrote:

>I am 39 years old and until a few months ago my blood pressure normally

>ran about 100/60. For the past two weeks I have been having a severe 24

>hour a day, 7 days a week headache and my blood pressure is running about

>130-150 over 90-100. My blood pressure was also elevated about a month and

>a half ago, but not to this degree.

>

>The only thing that has changed from six months ago is that I am on 20mg

>methotrexate. Has anyone had increased blood pressure as a side effect of

>methotrexate?

>

>I have a host of other issues that could cause hypertension such as

>hypothyroidism, family history, depo medrol injections, etc. so it may not

>be the methotrexate. I did skip my dose this past week due to a skin

>infection and the pressure is down somewhat (probably due to the fact that

>I have been running to the bathroom to urinate every hour for the past 24

>hours). I was just wondering if this could be a coincidence or not.

>Googling the issue didn't really provide much in the way of answers- most

>of the hypertension reported with methotrexate was in patients being

>treated for cancer at much higher doses.

>

>~Marie

March 19, 2008

mary,i totally AGREE with you! when im in severe PAIN,my blood pressure is sky

high.other than that my bp is NORMAL.god bless,melynda gamez

[ ] Re: Methotrexate and hypertension question

Hi Marie,

Sorry forgot to mention the high BP might also have to do with inflammation.

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March 19, 2008

My PCP said the prednisone was the cause of high BP. I have been on

pred for 2+ years. I have not heard about MTX causing high BP. Of

course, pain always elevates it.

>

> I am 39 years old and until a few months ago my blood pressure

normally ran about 100/60. For the past two weeks I have been having

a severe 24 hour a day, 7 days a week headache and my blood pressure

is running about 130-150 over 90-100. My blood pressure was also

elevated about a month and a half ago, but not to this degree.

>

> The only thing that has changed from six months ago is that I am on

20mg methotrexate. Has anyone had increased blood pressure as a side

effect of methotrexate?

>

> I have a host of other issues that could cause hypertension such as

hypothyroidism, family history, depo medrol injections, etc. so it

may not be the methotrexate. I did skip my dose this past week due to

a skin infection and the pressure is down somewhat (probably due to

the fact that I have been running to the bathroom to urinate every

hour for the past 24 hours). I was just wondering if this could be a

coincidence or not. Googling the issue didn't really provide much in

the way of answers- most of the hypertension reported with

methotrexate was in patients being treated for cancer at much higher

doses.

>

> ~Marie

>

March 20, 2008

Strangely enough, it has gone down almost to normal now for no apparent reason.

~Marie

Re: [ ] Methotrexate and hypertension question