Can Lexapro elevate your blood pressure? (+3 tips)

In this article, we will explore whether Lexapro can elevate blood pressure or not, how it affects blood pressure and what to do if high blood pressure is experienced. 

Can Lexapro elevate your blood pressure?

Yes, Lexapro can elevate blood pressure in some of the patients. Most patients who are taking Lexapro do not experience significant changes as a direct result. However, individual responses may vary. In some cases, Lexapro can lead to a mild increase in blood pressure. 

Patients with pre-existing hypertension are to be carefully monitored if prescribed Lexapro. Lexapro is an SSRI and this class has minimal effects on blood pressure and is safest to use regarding effects on blood pressure. It may cause elevated blood pressure but the risk is low as compared to other classes of antidepressants.

If you have concerns regarding the increased blood pressure due to Lexapro, then open communication with your healthcare provider is the best option. 

How does Lexapro elevate your blood pressure?

Lexapro is an SSRI that works by potentiating the levels of serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain cells. Thereby relieving anxiety and depression (1).  

Increased levels of serotonin cause constriction of blood vessels. This occurs because serotonin interacts with receptors on the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels, leading to contraction. When blood vessels constrict, resistance to blood flow increases, resulting in elevated blood pressure (2).  

Lexapro can also cause increased blood pressure by increasing the stroke volume and heart rate as a result of increased serotonin levels. It occurs due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system by the serotonin neurotransmitter (3).   

Lexapro takes about 1-4 weeks to start working and meanwhile, the body tries to get used to the changes induced by Lexapro. A lot of side effects of Lexapro appear within this time making it crucial for regular monitoring of patients.

It is important to note that not everyone who takes Lexapro experiences an elevated blood pressure. Multiple factors play an important role in this. 

What factors may influence blood pressure while taking Lexapro?

The factors that may influence the incidence of elevated blood pressure are as follows:

Individual variation

Each person’s response to Lexapro may differ depending on the body’s physiology. While Lexapro is generally considered to have minimal effect on blood pressure, some individuals may be more sensitive to its effects leading to an increased blood pressure. Genetic predisposition plays an important role in individual variations. 

Age

Older adults may be more susceptible to changes in blood pressure while taking certain medications such as SSRIs including Lexapro. Monitoring and dose adjustments may be needed. With age, rate of metabolism, liver and kidney functions etc are all affected which may lead to variation in the effects of drugs including Lexapro.

Pre-existing hypertension

Individuals with pre-existing hypertension may be at a higher risk of experiencing increased blood pressure while taking Lexapro. It is crucial to monitor the patient regularly in such cases. If a patient who has a past medical history of hypertension is prescribed Lexapro, then such patients need to be monitored regularly.

Interactions with other medications

Some medications may interact with Lexapro to cause elevated blood pressure. Such interactions include the following medications:

• Other SSRIs as this may cause serotonin syndrome
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) may lead to dangerously high levels of serotonin (4).
• Certain stimulant medications such as those used to treat ADHD. This may be due to the additive effect (5).
• Some over-the-counter cold medications may contain ingredients that may cause elevated blood pressure (6).
• NSAIDs, when used with Lexapro can potentially lead to high blood pressure.
• Some herbal supplements such as St. John’s Wort can interact and cause high blood pressure as well.

Lifestyle factors

Lifestyle choices can affect blood pressure such as high sodium intake, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can contribute to hypertension. A sedentary lifestyle can be the most important factor that may lead the patients to increased blood pressure.

What to do if Lexapro causes elevated blood pressure?

If you are taking Lexapro and experience elevated blood pressure, then this issue needs to be addressed promptly. Here is what to do if Lexapro induces high blood pressure:

Consulting healthcare provider

The first and foremost step is to consult your healthcare provider. Inform them about your past medical history and if you are taking any other medications. Open communication with the healthcare provider is crucial.

The healthcare provider may suggest 

• Regular monitoring
• Dose adjustment
• Medication Switch

Regular monitoring is essential to determine the extent of blood pressure increase and for the effectiveness of any intervention.

Lowering the dose of the Lexapro, if appropriate may help manage blood pressure while still providing therapeutic benefits for mood and anxiety. This adjustment should only be done with proper guidance.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend discontinuing Lexapro and may prescribe some other antidepressant with a lower side effect profile. The alternative option may be:

• Sertraline (SSRI)
• Duloxetine (SNRI)
• Bupropion (Atypical antidepressant)

How to manage blood pressure while taking Lexapro?

If elevated blood pressure has been observed while taking Lexapro then the following measure may be adopted.

• Reducing your sodium intake is crucial. Aim for less than 23000mg of sodium per day which is about one teaspoon of salt.

• Limit saturated fat found in red meat, full-fat dairy products and processed food. Opt for lean protein sources like poultry, fish or legumes. 

• Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. These are rich in potassium which can help counterbalance the effects of sodium.

• Choose whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, and oats over refined grains. 

• Engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

• Aim for a healthy body mass index (BMI) by achieving a healthy weight.

• Yoga and meditation can help reduce anxiety by calming the mind. Thus, helps lower the blood pressure caused by anxiety or stress. 

• Excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking can also add up to high blood pressure. avoiding them completely or reducing the frequency can also be helpful.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Lexapro causes high blood pressure in some cases. However, it is important to inform the doctor about this side effect so they can determine and evaluate the exact cause of the elevated blood pressure as many factors play a role in this. 

It is advisable to address this condition immediately as it may cause serious cardiac issues. 

References