So just wondering if anyone has had problems with the High BP when being on their SSRI and what may have helped.

I never had High Blood pressure before starting SSRIs but the whole time I was on them I would get high readings every time I’d visit my GP. Even to the point that I was sent to see a cardiologist who put me on BP medication and then a second one when the first did nothing. I mentioned to the doctors that I never had BP problems before lexapro or Paxil and would always be told they a completely unrelated. I no longer take BP medication.

Funnily enough, each time I tried coming off my antidepressant ( before withdrawal hit hard) my BP went back to normal levels but would skyrocket once in withdrawal.

I’ve always wondered if lexapro made me constantly agitated as a side effect but I just thought it was normal meanwhile my bodily systems where stuck in overdrive.

Now in my very slow taper sometimes my BP is ok and other times I go through periods were it fluctuates a lot or can be very high.

When going through a rough wave I start to obsess over my blood pressure and I’m sure this results in it being and staying high. When I’m feeling good I don’t really think about it.

What’s other peoples experience

Edited Thursday at 10:38 AM1 day by Lighty

@Pedro

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing high blood pressure. I know that can be stressful and uncomfortable. When I was on Celexa, I had the opposite problem as mine would stay low and kept me in a state of dysautonomia. Perhaps it’s just how the drug works on your system and everyone is affected differently. I would keep track of your food and liquid intake, how much sodium you eat and how exercise affects you, even if it’s just carrying groceries in. That way you can see any correlations and if they’re making you feel worse. I recently ate a salty meal and it triggered days of higher than usual BP for me and I felt terrible.

Hoping you feel better soon!

I remember one funny moment, I was waiting in the waiting room to see the psychiatrist. One patient has a real argument with my/his psychiatrist.They were almost yelling to each other.

The patient in the waiting room: "Prescribe me a venlafaxine! I want venlafaxine!"

The doctor behind his desk: "I want do it at all! Venlafaxine is raising blood pressure!"

The patient: "Yada, yada, yada... something..."

The doctor: "I’m not going to talk about it anymore!”

🤣hahaha!

But venlafaxine is an SNRI, not SSRI. Noradrenegic component is doing this, in theory.

The problem is that high blood pressure is so common, that no one could give you and answer. And there are many unknown causes.

I remember once on Zoloft I had higher blood pressure. After quitting everything one time it was low. But then normal usually..

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by The Dust