Venetoclax and high blood pressure

[Jackpot]

I am currently on second line treatment. I have been on venetoclax since Dec. 2023 and did six months of rituximab injections, finishing those in June, 2024. I continue to take venetoclax and will finish the two year protocol Dec. 2025.

I have always had normal, or optimal blood pressure. 120/70 ish. In the past year it has been creeping up to 140/85. This is really high for me! Sometimes it is even higher! I am fit, slim, non smoker, almost a non drinker, healthy diet. I am not sure what other lifestyle changes I can make (except to stop watching the news, which I find stress inducing). I am almost 65 years old.

Just wondering if anyone else has had elevated blood pressure while taking venetoclax. I did not have high blood pressure when I took acalabrutinib and venetoclax for just over a year in 2019.

Thanks.

Cindy

[Homebody123]

I am on ibrutinib and venetoclax and have seen my blood pressure since starting treatment rise to around 140/80 whereas before treatment I was circa 125/75. I’m not keen to add more drugs to my already extensive collection so am just taking my pressure weekly, exercising more, have switched to decaf coffee and trying to lose a bit of weight. It seems to be keeping it more stable rather than continuing to rise.

[may04cll]

Can the Venetoclax be reduced ?

[Jackpot in reply to may04cll]

I am on the 400 mg of Venetoclax and it is working really well for me. We didn’t discuss reducing the dose. I bought a bp cuff and will test at home over the next month and see what happens. She wasn’t overly concerned about the rise in blood pressure and said she expects it for most patients because being at the cancer clinic is stressful, even when everything is going well.

[craterlake in reply to Jackpot]

i had 3 years and 2 months of continuous treatment starting with acalabrutinib 9 months . then ,OB for 6 months ,then venetoclax , 2 years ..when i went to the cancer clinic my BP would be as high as 155 over 85 ..i was also anemic ..i used to check my BP twice a day at home .......at home my BP has NEVER been higher then 120/80 .. it is currently 110/75 .I seldom check it anymore ..... i am also a vegan so that helps ..they call it white coat syndrome ..when i go to my regular GP my BP is only slightly elevated but when i used go to the cancer clinic it would go way up .. i never thought i would be one of those people that are stressed about doctors or treatments ..but I was ...after almost 4 years of going to the clinic my BP only raises slightly ... I am also one of those people that can what the news often and not get agitated ... my wife is just the opposite ,, she really gets upset and she also has a tendency to have an elevated BP under normal conditions .. so check it at home with a reliable BP device ...especially before and after watching the news ....and see if your BP is normal at home when you are relaxed and elevated like mine is at the clinic .. hope you do as well as I have on the OB/Ven ....i am now a fit 75 y.o.......blessings , James ..

[Jackpot in reply to craterlake]

Thanks James. I should just turn off the tv and NOT watch the news. Can’t seem to help myself. 🙂

[craterlake in reply to Jackpot]

yes indeed .. i encourage my wife to pray more and worry less ! worry is blind and cannot see into the future anyway ..!!! 🙏🙂

[Mijoed]

My blood pressure was a fairly stable 120/80 prior to treatment but, after about cycle five of Rituximab, I too saw values around 145/90 and occasionally higher. My weight was stable and my exercise routine hasn’t changed. I walk around 10 miles a day, do two weight sessions a week and cycle once a week. The good news is that, with only 5 days of venetoclax left to take, my blood pressure has now dropped back to a reasonable 115/70.

[Jackpot in reply to Mijoed]

Thank you. I am hoping my bp decides to settle down soon. When I see that it is high, I get anxious and I think that makes it even go higher!

[BigDee]

Hello Jackpot

I have had a climb in my blood pressure in last few months of my venetoclax treatment of combined V&O. I am now post venetoclax by 1 1/2 years and blood pressure stabilized at acceptable levels. Higher BP seems to be a common venetoclax issue. Blessings.

[WittyApricot]

yes, when I was on V I had a rise in blood pressure—doctors said it wasn’t possible, but I’ve been off and now my blood pressure is back to my normal 110-120/ 60’s to 70x.

It is a side effect as prior I never had high blood pressure either the exception of any kind of nsaid or other medication. I would recommend trying to do focused breathing first min of five minutes a day…and then increase gradually as you feel you can go longer—-has great results in lower bp.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero]

While HTN is rare w ven, it's possible. It's more common w Rituximab. Also truth is as we age, the risk of HTN increases w or w/o CLL. DASH diet and meditation have the best data for reducing HTN without drugs. Best of luck.

[craterlake in reply to bkoffman]

👍🙂

[Curious79]

NOTE TO JACKPOT. This is from Onu1Tadi2. Not sure why it says I am Curious 79. (I tried to change this. No luck. SORRY)

I have been on the Venaticlax, mono regime, since August of 2024. My upper blood pressure is often as high as 180, even over 190 a couple of times for short spells. The norm for me is 160, with 130 day after moderate outdoor walking. The lower pressure is usually normal or too low. I also have had arrythmia since I took ibrutinib and acalabrutinib previously. Whenever I go for walks my bp is lower the next day. I have a type of anemia which keeps me from being too active physically. However I am still working on writing and other projects. I will be 80 years old in July. My mother had very high bp (average upper bp of 160) for about 20 years. She died at 93 so I'm not sure I've given you any useful advice but everyone is different in what they tolerate it seems. I take some blood thinners and something that helps with bp and arrythmia, but not sure it does. I think you're right to be concerned, and hopefully you will benefit from that concern. Older people generally seem to have higher bp, which is not always a concern. Wishing you best of luck. Exercise and low salt diet, I feel, are important in keeping bp down.