High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that can have fatal consequences if not treated. Many factors affect your blood pressure, including genetics, diet and stress. Doctors prescribe a variety of medications to treat high blood pressure, including diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers. The exact foods you should avoid when taking blood pressure medication depend on the type of medication you are taking. Consult your physician for exact dietary requirements or before making any changes to your diet.
Diuretics
Doctors often recommend that people with high blood pressure reduce their sodium intake to help control their blood pressure. They sometimes prescribe diuretics, also known as water pills, to treat blood pressure. Sodium retains water in your body, which the use of diuretics counteracts. Avoid high-potassium foods, such as bananas, oranges or leafy green vegetables, when taking triamterene, marketed under the name Dyrenium. This diuretic removes excess water and sodium but leaves potassium in your blood.
ACE Inhibitors
If you have high blood pressure, you may want to reduce your overall fat intake to help you lose weight and lower blood pressure. You may also want to avoid high-fat foods if you are taking an ACE inhibitor. According to Colorado State University Extension, high-fat meals can decrease the absorption of the ACE inhibitor quinapril, sold under the brand name Accupril. If you are taking an ACE inhibitor, you should also avoid salt substitutes.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are prescribed to help lower blood pressure. Beta blockers work by decreasing nerve impulses to blood vessels. Avoid licorice when taking beta blockers. In high doses, licorice can raise blood pressure and intensify side effects from beta blockers and other blood pressure medications. The beta blocker atenolol, sold under the brand name Tenormin, can also interact with orange juice. If you are taking atenolol, drink orange juice separately from the medication and avoid large quantities of the beverage.
Other Foods to Avoid
Limit your intake of alcohol, which can greatly lower your blood pressure when you take it with any blood pressure medication. If you are taking a blood-thinning medication, avoid foods high in vitamin K. In large doses, vitamin K clots your blood and reduces the effectiveness of blood thinners. Because many medications are used to treat blood pressure, check with your doctor or pharmacist about specific drug-food interactions.
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