Painkillers and Their Effect on Blood Pressure
No one is immune to different kinds of pain whether it's a headache, toothache, or aches from a cold that are treated with short-term painkillers, or pain from joint diseases that requires longer-term use of painkillers.
However, if you have high blood pressure, you should keep a particularly close eye on your readings when taking painkillers.
As early as 2007, researchers in the USA studied the effect of painkillers on blood pressure. In that study, participants who initially had normal blood pressure were observed. Within four years, one in eight participants had elevated blood pressure. Painkillers from the NSAID group (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as diclofenac or ibuprofen, had the greatest impact on blood pressure.
But the commonly used paracetamol was hardly any better it increased the risk of high blood pressure by 34%. In this study, ASA (for example Aspirin) performed best.
In a more recent study, researchers examined the effects of different active substances within the NSAID group on blood pressure. The effects NSAIDs can have on blood pressure are especially interesting because these drugs are used to treat painful conditions like osteoarthritis and arthritis. Both conditions mainly affect older people a patient group in which high blood pressure is also common.
Until now, these preparations were generally assumed to raise blood pressure. According to the latest findings, however, this depends on the specific active ingredient.
Ibuprofen in particular can have a noticeable effect on blood pressure. In the study, systolic values rose by 3.7 mmHg after four months. Considering that lowering blood pressure by 2 mmHg reduces the risk of heart attack by 10% and the mortality risk from coronary heart disease by 7%, the relevance of this result quickly becomes clear. Naproxen raised systolic blood pressure by an average of 1.6 mmHg. Treatment with celecoxib, on the other hand, was associated with a slight average decrease in systolic blood pressure of 0.3 mmHg.
People with hypertension should therefore discuss taking painkillers with their doctor to find a suitable active ingredient that has as little effect on blood pressure as possible.
Sources:
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 02/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
