Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Withdrawal of antihypertensive medication: a systematic review

van der Wardt, Veronika; Harrison, Jennifer K.; Welsh, Tomas J.; Conroy, Simon; Gladman, John R.F.

Withdrawal of antihypertensive medication: a systematic review Thumbnail


Authors

Veronika van der Wardt

Jennifer K. Harrison

Tomas J. Welsh

Simon Conroy

John R.F. Gladman



Abstract

Although antihypertensive medication is usually continued indefinitely, observations during wash-out phases in hypertension trials have shown that withdrawal of antihypertensive medication might be well tolerated to do in a considerable proportion of people. A systematic review was completed to determine the proportion of people remaining normotensive for 6 months or longer after cessation of antihypertensive therapy and to investigate the safety of withdrawal. The mean proportion adjusted for sample size of people remaining below each study's threshold for hypertension treatment was 0.38 at 6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37–0.49; 912 participants], 0.40 at 1 year (95% CI 0.40–0.40; 2640 participants) and 0.26 at 2 years or longer (95% CI 0.26–0.27; 1262 participants). Monotherapy, lower blood pressure before withdrawal and body weight were reported as predictors for successful withdrawal. Adverse events were more common in those who withdrew but were minor and included headache, joint pain, palpitations, oedema and a general feeling of being unwell. Prescribers should consider offering patients with well controlled hypertension a trial of withdrawal of antihypertensive treatment with subsequent regular blood pressure monitoring.

Citation

van der Wardt, V., Harrison, J. K., Welsh, T. J., Conroy, S., & Gladman, J. R. (2017). Withdrawal of antihypertensive medication: a systematic review. Journal of Hypertension, 35, https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001405

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 7, 2017
Publication Date May 9, 2017
Deposit Date Jun 27, 2017
Publicly Available Date Jun 27, 2017
Journal Journal of Hypertension
Electronic ISSN 2167-1095
Publisher OMICS International
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 35
DOI https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001405
Keywords antihypertensive agents, antihypertensive
medication, cessation, hypertension, withdrawal
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/860174
Publisher URL https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00004872-900000000-97726
Contract Date Jun 27, 2017

Files





Downloadable Citations