Resistant Hypertension Workup and Approach to Treatment

Table 2

Drug related causes of resistant hypertension.

Drug-related causes
Nonadherence; Suboptimal medication regimen; Inappropriate combinations
Drug actions and interactions
(i) Drugs that regularly raise blood pressure:
Anabolic steroids; Sympathomimetic amines (midodrine); Cocaine; Nicotine
(ii) Drugs that often raise blood pressure:
Ethanol  (in  excess); Corticosteroids; Cyclosporin; Erythropoietin; Anorectics; NSAIDs  including  COX-2  inhibitors; Ergot  alkaloids
(iii) Drugs that occasionally raise blood pressure:
Caffeine; Phenothiazines; Tricyclics; Oral contraceptives
(iv) Drugs that cause hypertension on withdrawal:
Clonidine; B-blockers
(v) Drugs that cause hypertension by interaction:
MAOIs