Worsening of Hypertension by Cyclo-oxygenase-2 Inhibitors – (02-12-01)

Worsening of Hypertension by Cyclo-oxygenase-2 Inhibitors

Remember and keep this ingrained: the human body has interactions between organs, between cells and even within cells that are far beyond what science may ever discover. When we block one such interaction without fully understanding what that process does IN ITS ENTIRETY, we risk side effects that may potentially be worse than the original disease process. Nature gave us methods to combat pain. They have been used for centuries, if not longer. Side effects of these therapies are virtually unheard of.

J Clin Hypertens 2(6):396-398, 2000 The cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been marketed as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a reduced risk for gastrointestinal toxicity compared to other classes of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also known to differ in their risk of adversely affecting blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. The acute effect of cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors on blood pressure has not been reported. We describe three cases demonstrating an adverse effect of cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors on blood pressure in stable hypertensive patients.