Once you start taking blood pressure medication, can you never stop?
Disease description:
My blood pressure has been slightly high for some time, and occasionally it becomes more severe. I would like to take antihypertensive medication to alleviate it, but I want to ask whether once I start taking blood pressure medication, I can never stop?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Tian Hongbo
After starting treatment with antihypertensive medications, long-term or even lifelong administration is usually required.
The purpose of taking antihypertensive drugs is to maintain blood pressure within a safe range, reduce damage to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, and prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Once medication is discontinued, blood pressure may rebound rapidly, increasing the risk of complications. However, this does not mean that antihypertensive drugs themselves are addictive, but rather because hypertension is a chronic disease with multiple causes often related to lifestyle habits, genetics, and other factors.
In some cases, such as when blood pressure is significantly reduced through lifestyle improvements like healthy eating, regular exercise, and weight loss, some patients may be able to gradually reduce their medication dosage or types under the guidance of a physician.
