Low Blood Pressure Causes & Risks

Causes

Orthostatic hypotension has several causes.

• Hypovolemia is the most common cause. It may be due to:
  • Excessive use of loop diuretic medications ( furosemide , bumetanide , ethacrynic acid )
  • Vasodilator medications (nitrate preparations, Ca blockers, or ACE inhibitors)
  • Dehydration
  • Prolonged bedrest
  • Addison’s disease (with inadequate salt intake)
• Impaired autonomic (nerve) reflex due to certain diseases:
  • Diabetes
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Amyloidosis
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Riley-Day syndrome
  • Shy-Drager syndrome
• Decreased heart muscle contractility or vascular responsiveness
• Certain drugs:
  • Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors ( isocarboxazid , phenelzine , tranylcypromine )
  • Tricyclic antidepressants ( nortriptyline , amitriptyline , desipramine , imipramine , protriptyline )
  • Tetracyclic antidepressants
• Phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs ( chlorpromazine , promazine, thioridazine )
• Atypical antipsychotics (eg, Seroquel )
• Quinidine
• Levodopa
• Barbiturates
• Alcohol

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Risk factors include:

• Increased age
• Use of certain drugs:
  • Loop diuretics
  • Vasodilators
  • MAO inhibitors
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • Tetracyclic antidepressants
  • Phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs
  • Quinidine
  • Levodopa
  • Barbiturates
  • Alcohol
• Inadequate fluid intake
• Prolonged bedrest
• Certain diseases or conditions:
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Advanced heart failure
  • Addison’s disease
  • Diabetes
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Amyloidosis
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Riley-Day syndrome
  • Shy-Drager syndrome