Methotrexate, infliximab, Citalopram and high blood pressure?

[GUEVARA]

Have recently been diagnosed with high BP on top of everything else and was wondering if anyone on Methotrexate or Infliximab had similar problems? Thought it might be related. Also on citalopram anti-depressant.

[Dundee1963]

Hi Guevara

Can I ask you a related question? Does Infliximab give you more energy.

[GUEVARA in reply to Dundee1963]

Hi there, I have been on infliximab for six years and I have been reborn on it, now working full time. Still get tired like, but not as bad. My Bd has been very settled on it. Saying that, other people have had no joy at all with it. Very good for uveitis of the eyes though. Good luck. Tim

[devonshiredumpling]

I developed high blood pressure not long after starting methotrexate.

My baseline BP was always on the low side at around 100/60 mmHg but it went as high as 180/130 mmHG a month or so after starting the MXT. I now have to take blood pressure medicines along with everything else!

I was told by the medics that, as I was on so many medications, it was impossible to lay the blame solely at the door of the MXT, although I was convinced that's what it was.

I've just read a report about MXT and raised BP, which seems to suggest that it does happen although only rarely - 1.75% out of 119,714 people reporting side effects. It seemed to occur more in the very early days on the drug.

I have to say that I haven't analysed the report properly and I don't know if there was any conflict of interest or such like. You can find it here: ehealthme.com/ds/methotrexa...

[lesleyg]

I've always had high BP since 30 (the only thing that was wrong with me for years). It went much higher on cyclosporine however I wasn't feeling very well last week on MTX and my BP was extremely low.

Lesley

[frisky]

Since being on methotrexate my blood pressures has come down as went higher after I started the steroids, and although still on the steroids, since taking methetrate its gone back to normal.

[GUEVARA]

Cheers folks. Tim