Suggest Treatment For UTI And High BP

Posted on Fri, 20 Feb 2015

Question: Hi there, I am a 60 year old female in good health. I am being treated for a uti and my blood pressure is high. 132/96 just now, although it was low this morning. Can antibiotics cause it to increase? I was on the internet reading about bladder cancer and it was scary. I have a hx of utis but my urologist is not worried. Thank you. PS My b/p was high in the doctors office but has been lower at home. This last one was scary at home.

Answered by Dr. Urszula Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Antibiotics do not increase blood pressure.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,

I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.

Your systolic blood pressure is 132 and diastolic blood pressure is 96. It means that you have high blood pressure (hypertension) stage 1.

When the blood pressure readings at your doctor's office are higher than they are in other settings like at home it means You can have "white coat hypertension". This is very common and you do not have to be worry about it.
For this situation you should measure blood pressure by yourself at home and write the readings down and bring them to your doctor.

Levofloxacin does not cause elevated blood pressure.

You have also asked about bladder cancer. Do you have:
1.Pain during urination? ( this could be a symptom of urinary tract infection)
frequent urinary tract infections?
2.Pain in the lower back?
3.Blood in the urine?
4.Weight loss?
5.Do you smoke? Because smoking is the most important risk factor for bladder cancer.
Cystoscopy is the main test used to diagnose bladder cancer, however first you should be examined by urologist.

I would order for base line:
-urine test and urine culture to check if the bacteria is present in the urine or not
-blood tests
-an electrocardiogram
-you should monitor your blood pressure at home and than and bring them to your doctor.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Urszula Stanko (1 hour later)

Thank you, Dr. Stanko,
No, I do not smoke. I wondered if infection can cause my b/p to go up. I have taken it more at home today, it has come down. I had a c/s, was on Macrobid for 2.5 days prior to c/s. Waiting on results, no blood, 20 wbc. I have not had weight loss except in the past 2 days as this Levofloxacin has made me not hungry, by the way, that never happens. I exercise. I haven't had high b/p.

Answered by Dr. Urszula Stanko (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
High blood pressure is not caused by uti.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Urinary tract infection can not cause high blood pressure.

I think that you should have 24-hour blood pressure monitor test. Because it is normal for blood pressure to change during the day due to anxiety, exercises etc. Taking a single blood pressure measurement is not always a very accurate way of checking your blood pressure.

Unexplained weight loss which should be checked is when you lose more than 10 percent of your weight in six months. Loss of appetite is a side effect of levofloxacin and you do not have to be worry about it.

Thank You.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju