18 Medications That Can Cause Pulmonary Hypertension

The use of certain prescription medications and street drugs can lead to the development of pulmonary hypertension. Here’s a list of drugs that have been linked to the onset of the disease according to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada.

Weight Loss Medications 

Weight loss medications or appetite suppressants have been linked to pulmonary hypertension. These include:

• Aminorex
• Dexfenfluramine (Redux)
• Fenfluramine (Ponderal, Pondimin)
• Phentermine (Ionamin)
• Mazindol

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer and some autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Chemotherapy medications that could increase the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension include:

• Bleomycin
• Busulfan
• Carmustine (BCNU)
• Dasatinib
• Interferon-alpha
• Interleukin-2
• Lomustine (CCNU)
• Mitomycin C
• Nitrosoureas

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Street Drugs

Abuse of street drugs (or recreational drugs) may also increase the risk of a person developing pulmonary hypertension. In particular, the following drugs:

• Amphetamine
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine

Other Medicines

A type of amino acid commonly used to treat disorders such as sleep apnea and depression may also increase the risk of pulmonary hypertension:

• L-tryptophan

MORE: How oxygen therapy helps with pulmonary hypertension

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