Many people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, have seasonal or perennial allergies that need treatment. Medications abound to combat the runny and stuffy nose, itching, and sneezing brought on by hay fever type symptoms. Some allergy medicines, however, can cause serious cardiovascular side effects. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine and oxymetazoline work by shrinking swollen sinus blood vessels. While these drugs effectively tame congestion allergy symptoms, patients with hypertension should choose alternative medicinal treatments other than decongestants that don't threaten cardiovascular health.
Cromolyn Sodium
Cromolyn sodium, classed as a mast cell inhibitor, poses few serious side effects and no cardiovascular risks. Individuals with high blood pressure who are worried about drug interactions can safely take nonprescription cromolyn sodium for seasonal or perennial allergies. Frequent daily dosing marks one of its drawbacks.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this nasal spray boasts a unique mechanism among allergy medicines. Cromolyn sodium prevents mast cells from releasing histamine, which triggers respiratory allergy symptoms, rather than providing anti-inflammatory action after symptoms have already begun. The length and strength of symptom protection varies among patients.
Nasal Steroids
The superior effectiveness of nasal corticosteroids combined with safe, low doses make these medications appropriate for hypertensive patients with allergies. Like cromolyn sodium, popular steroid-based drugs such as flunisolide and fluticasone treat sneezing, runny and stuffy noses, and itching allergy symptoms. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that these nasal sprays may cause only minor side effects, such as headache and nosebleed. These drugs require prescriptions but may be used year-round.
Antihistamines
Some stand-alone oral tablet and nasal spray antihistamines may be taken by hypertensive patients with or without prescriptions. While antihistamine allergy medicines treat itching, sneezing and runny nose symptoms, many do not address stuffy nose congestion. Those that do may pose health risks to people with high blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, antihistamines that include a decongestant, sometimes called combination drugs, should not be taken by people with cardiovascular conditions. Patients should carefully read antihistamine ingredients and pass on those that include pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine or oxymetazoline.
Leukotriene Blockers
Leukotrienes are chemicals that, along with histamines, induce allergy symptoms when the body's mast cells send them into the bloodstream. Prescription medications---such as montelukast and zafirlukast---that suppress leukotriene levels may be safe for hypertensive patients, but they may cause other unwanted side effects, such as depression and flu-like symptoms. According to the AAAAI, these allergy medicines represent alternatives for patients who can't take antihistamines or corticosteroids.
