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Can You Take Semaglutide With High Blood Pressure Medication?
Managing both your weight and high blood pressure can feel like walking a tightrope. On one hand, clinical studies show that losing just 5-10% of your weight can help lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, many common weight loss medications can raise blood pressure, making it even more challenging to achieve your goals. If you have high blood pressure, you may be wondering: Can you take semaglutide with high blood pressure medication? This article can help you safely manage both your weight and high blood pressure without risking harmful drug interactions or complications. Additionally, Does Semaglutide Cause Constipation?
MeAgain's GLP-1 app can help you achieve your goals by providing the tools to manage your weight while taking semaglutide safely.
Table of Contents
Can You Take Semaglutide with High Blood Pressure Medication?
When Shouldn’t You Take Semaglutide if You Have High Blood Pressure?
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Can You Take Semaglutide with High Blood Pressure Medication?
Yes, you can take Ozempic if you’re taking medication to treat high blood pressure.
How Does Ozempic Affect Blood Pressure?
Studies have shown that blood pressure typically goes down in people treated with Ozempic and similar medications. A 2024 review and meta-analysis in the European Heart Journal examined three previously published studies, which collectively compared semaglutide to a placebo in 3,136 participants with hypertension. The review revealed that the drug reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper number) by an average of about 5 mm Hg compared to placebo. That might not sound like a lot, but according to a meta-analysis in The Lancet, a 5 mm Hg drop in your systolic blood pressure lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other major and potentially fatal cardiac events by 10%.
Semaglutide's Potential to Reduce Hypertension Medication Use, Especially in Resistant Cases
The European Heart Journal review found that people taking semaglutide were more likely to be able to reduce their use of hypertension medications compared to those on a placebo. This difference was most pronounced among study participants with resistant hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that’s hard to treat and requires at least three medications to manage. More than one-fourth of those with resistant hypertension who took semaglutide were able to reduce their antihypertensive meds, compared to only 3% of those taking a placebo.
Mechanism of Semaglutide's Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect
Experts don’t yet know precisely why semaglutide has this effect. “Currently, the mechanism of this blood pressure reduction is not clear,” says cardiologist Vijay Kasi, M.D., Ph.D., the president of the Orlando Health Heart and Vascular Institute in Orlando, FL. “It is not known if this benefit is due to weight loss or due to the drug’s [direct] effect.” The review authors wrote that weight loss likely plays a significant role in the blood pressure improvements seen with semaglutide. That makes sense.
Weight Loss from Semaglutide and Its Benefits for Blood Pressure
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), losing even a small amount of weight, say, 10 pounds, can help you lower your blood pressure or prevent it from rising too high in the first place. And research shows that Ozempic can lead to a significant amount of weight loss, as well as maintaining that loss long-term.
How Semaglutide's Sustained Weight Loss and Vascular Effects Contribute to Blood Pressure Reduction
In a 2024 study in Nature Medicine of 17,064 adults with obesity and without diabetes, for example, those taking semaglutide kept off an average of 10% of their body weight for four years. Sustained weight loss alone will improve your blood pressure, says Caroline Messer, M.D., an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. But a few other factors also might contribute to lower blood pressure while on Ozempic, she adds. She points out that the drug helps your blood vessels to relax, which improves blood flow and may lower blood pressure.
Reduced Sodium Intake and Blood Pressure Medication Reduction with Ozempic
Ozempic also impacts your appetite, leading you to eat less. That could reduce the amount of sodium, which contributes to high blood pressure, in your daily diet, says Dr. Messer. “I typically am able to decrease the number of blood pressure medications a patient is taking after successful treatment with Ozempic,” says Dr. Messer. Dr. Kasi agrees, noting that while taking this drug, “some patients may even be able to come off their blood pressure medications completely.”
But You May Need to Switch Your Medication or Change Your Dosage
Dosage changes
Ozempic can cause weight loss and affect your heart health in many ways. Over time, your blood pressure may improve while you’re taking Ozempic. You might not need to take as much medication to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. Keep a close eye on your blood pressure while you’re taking Ozempic. Call your healthcare team if you notice lower-than-usual blood pressure readings. This can be a sign that you need to lower your blood pressure medication.
Medication changes
Some blood pressure medications, like beta blockers and clonidine, can affect how your blood responds to low blood sugar levels. Other blood pressure medications like diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone) can increase blood sugar levels. Your healthcare team may ask you to keep a closer eye on your blood sugar levels if you’re taking one of these medications and Ozempic. They may also ask you to switch to a different class of blood pressure medication that doesn’t affect blood sugar.
Can You Get an Ozempic Prescription for High Blood Pressure?
Ozempic is only approved for treating diabetes, so you won’t be able to get a prescription for it solely for high blood pressure, says Dr. Kasi. (Another semaglutide medication, Wegovy, has been approved to treat obesity. Wegovy received approval to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other major cardiac events in people with heart disease who are either overweight or obese.) “Although semaglutide has been noted to reduce blood pressure, it is not indicated solely for blood pressure reduction at this time,” says Dr. Kasi.
Semaglutide's Modest Impact on Blood Pressure: An Added Benefit, Not a Primary Treatment
Dr. Messer notes it would not make sense to rely on Ozempic for the primary goal of blood pressure management, since there are more powerful medications for doing that. “The effect is minimal and takes time to set in, so it shouldn’t be used as a primary BP medication,” she says. But if you’re taking semaglutide for another reason, you can consider the modest effect on your blood pressure an additional benefit.
Other Ways to Reduce High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, there’s plenty that you can do to lower it, including medications and lifestyle changes.
Medications
Several different types of medication treat hypertension, according to the AHA.
They include:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors): These lower your body’s production of angiotensin, a chemical that narrows your arteries. This relaxes and widens your blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): Prevent angiotensin from narrowing your arteries. This relaxes and widens your blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. Beta blockers, which slow your heart rate to lower blood pressure. Some beta blockers also help your blood vessels relax.
Calcium channel blockers: These help your blood vessels to relax and widen, lowering blood pressure.
Diuretics: Which lower blood pressure by helping to move excess salt and fluids out of your body via your urine.
To be sure your medications adequately control your blood pressure, take them as prescribed and monitor your blood pressure regularly, Dr. Kasi recommends.
Lifestyle Changes
Dr. Kasi and Dr. Messer suggest these lifestyle steps to improve your blood pressure:
Eat a healthy and Low-sodium diet: Dr. Messer recommends the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The Mediterranean diet is another good choice.
Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, biking, or swimming, five days a week.
Make time for strength-building exercise at least twice a week: Your doctor can help you figure out a safe and effective program.
If you smoke, quit: If you’re having trouble stopping, ask your doctor for help.
Limit or avoid alcohol: That means no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Lose weight: This is one of the most effective ways to lower your blood pressure, as even a small amount of weight loss will have a positive impact, as noted above.
Manage your stress: Find ways to relax, like breathing exercises and meditation, while doing your best to avoid things that trigger your anxiety.
Sleep well: You need seven to nine hours of sound sleep every night. If you struggle with this or are tired during the day, talk to your doctor.
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When Shouldn’t You Take Semaglutide if You Have High Blood Pressure?
People with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not take semaglutide or other GLP-1 medications like Ozempic until their blood pressure is under control. Uncontrolled hypertension can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, and medications like Ozempic can lower blood pressure, which could lead to dangerous complications. Always consult a doctor before starting any new medication.
Cardiovascular Complications: A History of Hypertension
If you have a history of cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke, be cautious about taking semaglutide. The medication can affect blood pressure and may increase the risk of complications in people who are already at risk. Always talk to your doctor about your medical history before starting semaglutide or any new medication.
Dehydration and Dizziness: Side Effects to Monitor
Ozempic comes with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration can be dangerous and impact your overall health, especially if you have high blood pressure. Call your health care team right away if you are experiencing side effects and:
Are unable to keep food or fluids down
Have noticed you are urinating less often
Feel dizzy or lightheaded
Your team may ask you to change your semaglutide dosage or start treatment for dehydration.
Surgery: The Anesthesia Connection
Research suggests that semaglutide can slow digestion and may increase the risk of complications during surgery. Because high blood pressure can impact how your body responds to surgical stress, it’s best to have your blood pressure under control before surgery and avoid medications like semaglutide that can affect your health during this time.
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