Headache after taking blood pressure medicine

There are many types of antihypertensive drugs on the market now, and people can make targeted choices based on their high blood pressure. It should also be noted that antihypertensive drugs produced by regular pharmaceutical companies should be more effective. However, some antihypertensive drugs may cause side effects after taking them, which should be noted. So why does a headache occur after taking antihypertensive drugs?

Why do I get a headache after taking blood pressure medication?

1. Wrong medicine

Common antihypertensive drugs such as dihydropyridines lower blood pressure by blocking the flow of calcium ions into the myocardium or smooth muscle and dilating blood vessels. If the drug causes excessive stretching of the pain receptors on the walls of cerebral blood vessels, it will produce chemical stimulation to the meninges and induce headaches, which is medically known as vasodilatory headaches. If it is determined that the condition is caused by drugs, you can first change the dosage form as prescribed by your doctor, such as using sustained-release tablets or control tablets. If the condition is still not relieved, you can change the type of drug as prescribed by your doctor.

2. Drop too fast

Patients with long-term hypertension usually no longer feel the effects after adapting. If blood pressure drops rapidly and the brain cannot adapt in the short term, symptoms similar to cerebral ischemia will appear, that is, patients will often experience dizziness, headaches, etc. For such patients, blood pressure can be gradually controlled by adjusting the dosage of medication. For example, if the original one week to normal state is achieved, the time limit can be extended to two weeks.

Other side effects of antihypertensive drugs

1. Thiazide diuretics can cause hyperuricemia, induce gout, and reduce renal function. Therefore, patients with gout and renal insufficiency should use thiazide diuretics with caution.

2. Diuretics can cause the renal tubules to excrete potassium while excreting sodium, increasing the excretion of sodium and potassium and leading to hyponatremia or hypokalemia. Symptoms of discomfort often include general weakness, low muscle tension, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, indigestion, palpitations and other symptoms.

3. Calcium ion blockers can dilate blood vessels, causing headaches and facial flushing; they can affect the calcium ion flow in intestinal smooth muscle, causing constipation; they can reduce myocardial contractility, so patients with heart failure should be cautious; in addition, they can also cause tachycardia by reflexively activating the sympathetic nervous system due to vasodilation; in addition, they can also cause edema of the lower limbs, especially the ankles, as well as rash and allergic reactions.

However, adverse reactions are a summary of various adverse reactions found in drug safety trials and long-term clinical observations. It does not mean that a person will experience all adverse reactions, nor does it mean that the above-mentioned adverse reactions will definitely occur after taking the drug.

Moreover, the side effects of antihypertensive drugs are minimal to the human body compared to their effect in helping to lower blood pressure. In other words, taking antihypertensive drugs can maintain your health with very low adverse reactions. If you experience adverse reactions when taking medicine, communicate with your doctor in time and change the medicine in time.