Cardiovascular
Medicines for Postural hypotension
A drop in blood pressure on standing up, causing dizziness or light-headedness — common in older people and often improved by simple measures and reviewing medicines.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Postural hypotension?
Postural (orthostatic) hypotension is a fall in blood pressure that happens when a person stands up from sitting or lying down. Normally the body quickly adjusts to keep blood flowing to the brain, but when this response is impaired, standing causes a drop in blood pressure and symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness or, sometimes, fainting, which ease on sitting or lying down again.
- How it is treated: Management starts with identifying and addressing the cause and using simple, effective measures.
- Self-care: Standing up slowly and in stages, staying well hydrated, avoiding prolonged standing and large heavy meals, raising the head of the bed, using compression stockings, and tensing leg muscles before standing all help reduce symptoms.
- When to seek help: See a GP about dizziness or light-headedness on standing, especially if it causes falls or is troublesome, so contributing medicines can be reviewed and the cause assessed.
What it is
Postural (orthostatic) hypotension is a fall in blood pressure that happens when a person stands up from sitting or lying down. Normally the body quickly adjusts to keep blood flowing to the brain, but when this response is impaired, standing causes a drop in blood pressure and symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness or, sometimes, fainting, which ease on sitting or lying down again. It is common, particularly in older people, and can increase the risk of falls. Causes include dehydration, certain medicines (especially blood pressure tablets, some heart and prostate medicines, and antidepressants), prolonged bed rest, and conditions affecting the nerves that control blood pressure (such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease). It is diagnosed by measuring blood pressure lying and standing.
How it is treated
Management starts with identifying and addressing the cause and using simple, effective measures. Reviewing medicines that may be contributing (with a doctor, not stopping them yourself) is often key. Practical steps help a lot: standing up slowly and in stages, staying well hydrated, sometimes increasing salt intake if advised, avoiding prolonged standing and large heavy meals, and using techniques such as tensing the leg muscles before standing. Compression stockings help some people. Where these are not enough, or symptoms are significant, specific medicines to support blood pressure may be used, and any underlying condition is managed. Because it raises the risk of falls, addressing it is important, particularly in older people. Care is usually guided by a GP.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Postural hypotension
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
By active ingredient
Specific medicines used for Postural hypotension
Dose-free guides to individual active ingredients used in postural hypotension — what each is, how it works, how to take it, and its advantages and disadvantages:
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Standing up slowly and in stages, staying well hydrated, avoiding prolonged standing and large heavy meals, raising the head of the bed, using compression stockings, and tensing leg muscles before standing all help reduce symptoms.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
See a GP about dizziness or light-headedness on standing, especially if it causes falls or is troublesome, so contributing medicines can be reviewed and the cause assessed. Seek prompt care for fainting with injury or frequent blackouts.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Postural hypotension: frequently asked questions
Why do I feel dizzy when I stand up?
A drop in blood pressure on standing (postural hypotension) reduces blood flow to the brain briefly. It is common, especially in older people, and often relates to dehydration, medicines, or conditions affecting blood pressure control.
How is postural hypotension treated?
By addressing the cause — often reviewing contributing medicines — and simple measures: standing slowly, staying hydrated, sometimes more salt, compression stockings, and, if needed, specific medicines. It is worth treating, as it raises fall risk.
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Postural hypotension
- NICE — Falls and hypotension guidance
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