Safety and blood pressure trajectory of short-term withdrawal of antihypertensive medications in older adults: experience from a clinical trial sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The short-term safety of and blood pressure changes after withdrawing hypertension treatment in older adults in preparation for clinical trials have not been well established.

Methods

Participants were enrolled in a clinical trial and antihypertensive medications were tapered over 3 weeks (week 1: reduction by 25%-50%; week 2: 50%-75%, week 3: off). Blood pressure was measured at the initial visit and after stopping all antihypertensive therapy (personnel) and twice a day during the taper phase (provided monitor). Trend analyses and linear models were used to assess changes in blood pressure.

Results

All participants (n = 53, mean age = 71 years, total of 1158 readings) successfully tapered their medications with no symptoms. Only 2% of the readings exceede

SUBMITTER: Hajjar I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3799869 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature