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What Causes High Blood Pressure While On Alvesco, Singulair And Nasacort?
Posted on
Tue, 15 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 15 Dec 2015
Answered on
Wed, 6 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 61 year old female that usually has low blood pressure, 115/70, 118/65 and so on. My nurses laugh and have asked if I as awake as sometimes when I don't feel good it will be below 100. I see a Dr. every 6 months for a routine check up, it was in Oct. Again low blood pressure. My husband was checking his tonight so I did mine cause I have been so tired, sleeping 10 to 12 hrs. a day, and it was 134/60, pulse 55, 126/53, pulse 59,134/58, pulse,54. I had been sitting watching TV. I am 5ft. 4 and weigh 120. I have asthma that I take Alvesco, Singulair, and Zyrtec, Nasacort, also have depression Zoloft 125mg. I have been taking everything for years except Alvesco was added this summer. Is Alvesco the cause?
Brief Answer:
I don't think the Alvesco would raise your pressure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Alvesco is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids can definitely raise blood pressure if taken orally as a pill. But they generally do not have much effect on blood pressure when inhaled. When inhaled, not much of it is absorbed into the general system. However, cortisol type symptoms are listed as uncommon side effects for this medication.
What I suggest is going in to your doctor's office for a nurse-only visit to record pressures there. Do this on 3 separate occasions if possible. This will give a better comparison as blood pressure can vary somewhat depending on the particular cuff. Doing this 3 times will also provide more information, as there can be anomalies and so readings from one situation alone are not as useful as 3.
If your pressures remain increased, and you haven't added more caffeine or alcohol to your daily life (which can also raise pressures) you may want to talk with your doctor about what is going on. Your pressures are not concerning as in hypertension, needing treatment, but it would be good to address, if possible, why they would be up from your baseline.
I hope this information helps.
I don't think the Alvesco would raise your pressure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Alvesco is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids can definitely raise blood pressure if taken orally as a pill. But they generally do not have much effect on blood pressure when inhaled. When inhaled, not much of it is absorbed into the general system. However, cortisol type symptoms are listed as uncommon side effects for this medication.
What I suggest is going in to your doctor's office for a nurse-only visit to record pressures there. Do this on 3 separate occasions if possible. This will give a better comparison as blood pressure can vary somewhat depending on the particular cuff. Doing this 3 times will also provide more information, as there can be anomalies and so readings from one situation alone are not as useful as 3.
If your pressures remain increased, and you haven't added more caffeine or alcohol to your daily life (which can also raise pressures) you may want to talk with your doctor about what is going on. Your pressures are not concerning as in hypertension, needing treatment, but it would be good to address, if possible, why they would be up from your baseline.
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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