Can I Take Diet Suppressants While Taking Blood Pressure Pills?

High blood pressure affects about one in three adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1. If you have high blood pressure, you may also be obese or at least eager to lose some weight, though you should use caution before deciding to use any medication or dietary supplement to help you do so. If you're currently on any kind of medication, including hypertension drugs, you should always consult with your physician before taking any diet pills.

Appetite Suppressants

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several prescription drugs as appetite suppressants to treat obesity. Phentermine, diethylpropion and phendimetrazine are all prescription medications your physician can prescribe for you that work by suppressing your appetite, according to The Weight-Control Information Network, part of the National Institutes of Health. The only FDA approved over-the-counter obesity drug is orlistat, sold under the name Alli, but it is not an appetite suppressant.

High Blood Pressure Medication

There are a wide range of medications suitable for treating high blood pressure, and your doctor can tell you which one is most suited to your circumstances 3. According to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, blood pressure medications range from diuretics that help your kidneys remove salt from your blood to renin inhibitors that relax your blood vessels 3.

Interactions

Prescription drugs may interact with other medications you're currently taking, including blood pressure medications 3. For example, according to Drugs.com, there are 230 known drug interactions with the appetite suppressant phendimetrazine, 36 of which are classified as "major" interactions 2. Phentermine, an amphetamine, can also result in an increase in blood pressure, making it unsuitable for people with hypertension. The other appetite suppressants also have potential negative drug interactions, so you need to make sure your doctor is aware of all the drugs you're currently taking before you take a diet drug or blood pressure medications 3.

Dietary Supplements

Apart from prescription and over-the-counter diet medications and appetite suppressants, you may also be considering taking dietary supplements such as so-called diet pills, herbal pills or similar products. Always be very careful when using these products, especially when taking medication for high blood pressure. These products are largely untested and there may be any number of potential interactions between them and your medication. Always consult your physician before taking any dietary supplement, especially when on hypertension drugs.