Can Repatha cause high blood pressure?

Repatha can cause the side effect of high blood pressure (hypertension) in some patients. In the Repatha (evolocumab) clinical trial called DESCARTES, the incidence of hypertension was 0.9% more in the Repatha group compared to patients in the placebo group (3.2% vs 2.3%).

You can have high blood pressure without any symptoms so when on Repatha it is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly, when you visit your health care professional.

Hypertension can cause damage to your body including increase the risk of:

• aneurysm (a bulge in an artery wall that may burst leading to serious internal bleeding)
• damage to the retina of the eye
• enlarged heart
• heart attack
• heart failure
• kidney failure
• stroke

Patients on Repatha have high cholesterol levels and so are at higher risk of cardiovascular events. An increase in blood pressure adds another cardiovascular risk which you need to be aware of. This is why it is important to have your blood pressure monitored when you start Repatha and throughout treatment.

More information on Repatha side effects.