Painkillers and their effect on blood pressure
No one is immune to pain of different kinds-whether headaches, toothaches, or cold-related pain, for which painkillers are taken for acute relief, or pain caused by joint diseases that requires taking pain medication over a longer period.
However, if you have high blood pressure, you should keep a close eye on your values when taking painkillers.
As early as 2007, researchers in the USA investigated the effect of painkillers on blood pressure. In this study, participants with initially normal blood pressure readings were monitored. Within four years, elevated blood pressure values were measured in one eighth of the participants. Painkillers from the NSAID drug group (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which include diclofenac and ibuprofen, for example, had the biggest impact on blood pressure.
But paracetamol, which is also commonly taken, was hardly any better and increased the risk of excessively high blood pressure readings by 34 percent. In this study, ASA (for example, aspirin) came out best.
In a recent study, researchers investigated the effects of the various active ingredients in the NSAID group on blood pressure. The potential effects of NSAIDs on blood pressure are particularly interesting because these medications are used to treat the painful conditions osteoarthritis and arthritis. Both conditions occur primarily in older people-a patient group in which elevated blood pressure readings are also common.
Until now, these preparations have generally been assumed to increase blood pressure. However, according to the latest findings, this depends on the active ingredient.
However, ibuprofen in particular can significantly affect blood pressure. In the study, systolic values were measured to be 3.7 mmHg higher after four months. If you consider that lowering blood pressure by 2 mmHg reduces the risk of a heart attack by 10 percent and the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 7 percent, the importance of this result quickly becomes clear. Naproxen increased systolic blood pressure by an average of 1.6 mmHg. With celecoxib, on the other hand, there was a slight average decrease in systolic blood pressure of 0.3 mmHg.
Another study also calls into question paracetamol's reputation as a "blood pressure-neutral" alternative to NSAIDs: In the so-called PATH-BP study, 110 people with high blood pressure received either 4 grams of paracetamol daily or a placebo for two weeks at a time. Paracetamol resulted in a significant increase in systolic blood pressure by an average of about 5 mmHg. The authors therefore conclude that taking paracetamol regularly can also raise blood pressure and thus increase cardiovascular risk in the long term. People with hypertension should therefore also use the lowest possible dose of paracetamol, take it only for as long as necessary, and consult a doctor about regular use.
Another study also calls into question paracetamol's reputation as a "blood pressure-neutral" alternative to NSAIDs: In the so-called PATH-BP study, 110 people with high blood pressure received either 4 grams of paracetamol daily or a placebo for two weeks at a time. Paracetamol resulted in a significant increase in systolic blood pressure by an average of about 5 mmHg. The authors therefore conclude that taking paracetamol regularly can also raise blood pressure and thus increase cardiovascular risk in the long term. People with hypertension should therefore also use the lowest possible dose of paracetamol, take it only for as long as necessary, and consult a doctor about regular use.
In general, you should discuss taking painkillers with your doctor to find an appropriate active ingredient that can affect your blood pressure as little as possible.
Sources:
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 05/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
