Study: Ibuprofen Impedes Blood Pressure Control in Arthritics

Elderly people taking an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure may find that it is not working too well if they also are taking ibuprofen for arthritis, according to a new study.

The researchers suggest that those taking an ACE inhibitor might be better off substituting another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the ibuprofen to help with arthritis.

As reported in the February issue of the American Journal of Hypertension, researchers found that ibuprofen significantly increased both the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the 385 study participants after one month of use with an ACE inhibitor, compared to a placebo.

However, the researchers found that the NSAIDs nabumetone and celecoxib had smaller increases in average systolic and diastolic blood pressure that were not significanlty different from a placebo.

"The results of this study confirm the findings of other studies regarding the disruptive effects of ibuprofen when administered concomitantly with antihypertensive therapy," concluded the researchers.

The researchers suggested that patients taking both antihypertensive drugs and NSAIDs should regularly have their blood pressure monitored for potential interference with blood-pressure control, particulary elderly patients and those with mild renal problems.

Other sources: American Journal of Hypertension, Vol. 16, No. 2, 135-139