Blood pressure and heart rate and withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs.
The immediate effects on heart rate and blood pressure of withdrawing antihypertensive drugs were studied over three-day periods in 26 patients. Four groups of drugs were studied. After withdrawal all patients taking clonidine showed a considerable increase in heart rate and blood pressure with intense ectopic activity. Patients taking postganglionic neurone-blocking drugs showed a similar but less pronounced reaction with increased ventricular ectopic activity. No alarming reactions were seen after withdrawal of methyldopa or beta-blocking drugs. Methyldopa and, especially, beta-blocking drugs are less likely to produce withdrawal reactions than clonidine or the postganglionic neurone-blocking drugs, and patients taking these drugs are therefore less likely to suffer violent reactions if they forget to take their tablets.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa; D008875:Middle Aged; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D008750:Methyldopa; D003000:Clonidine