Discontinuing beta blockers: what to watch out for in the case of high blood pressure and cardiac insufficiency
Created: 11/03/2022, 2:00 p.m
By: Natalie Hull Drawbar
High blood pressure patients should never stop taking their beta blockers without consulting a doctor.
Rapid heartbeat or even a heart attack can result.
Experts speak of high blood pressure when blood pressure is above a systolic and diastolic value of 140 to 90 mmHg for at least 24 hours.
However, warning signs of high blood pressure are often not felt or interpreted by those affected, as a high blood pressure patient directly describes.
This makes regular blood pressure measurements at the doctor's, in the pharmacy or at home all the more important.
The better those affected know their blood pressure values and, if necessary, receive drug therapy, the easier it is to prevent consequential damage such as strokes and heart attacks.
Anyone who takes a beta blocker to lower blood pressure should not simply discontinue it on their own if there are side effects or other reasons.
It is important to always do this in consultation with the attending family doctor or cardiologist.
Lower blood pressure: what therapies are there?
Blood pressure lowering drugs such as beta blockers should never be discontinued independently without consulting a doctor.
(Iconic image) © imagebroker/Imago
About three million people in Germany live with high blood pressure, about one in three is affected.
Over 30 percent of those affected know nothing about their disease - why is that?
High blood pressure causes no or only unspecific symptoms.
"You don't see it and you don't feel it, that's the insidious thing about high blood pressure.
That's why high blood pressure is also called the 'silent killer'”, as Prof. Dr.
medical
Thomas Eschenhagen, member of the scientific advisory board of the German Heart Foundation and head of the Institute for Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, describes this to the German Heart Foundation.
High blood pressure is actually the number 1 risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
According to the German Heart Foundation
, 88 percent of those affected who know about their high blood pressure can be treated
.
More than three-quarters of the patients also achieve blood pressure values in the normal range as a result of the therapy.
Don't miss anything: You can find everything to do with health in the regular newsletter from our partner 24vita.de.
If the blood pressure cannot be brought below a value of 140 to 90 140 to 90 mmHg simply through an adapted lifestyle with a lot of exercise and a healthy, Mediterranean diet, medicines, so-called antihypertensives, are usually used.
These require a prescription and are prescribed by the doctor treating you.
Sustainably reduce stress – with proven relaxation techniques
View photo gallery
Preparations that, according to the
German Heart Foundation
, are used for drug therapy for high blood pressure are:
also read
Peeing in the shower: Why you should do it more often now
Too much alcohol?
5-minute test provides clarity as to whether you are drinking too much
Beta blockers, alpha 2 agonists and alpha blockers
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers
Calcium antagonists/calcium channel blockers
Diuretics (medicines that drain water)
Direct renin inhibitors (agents such as irbesartan and candesartan)
Discontinuing beta blockers: what to watch out for in the case of high blood pressure and cardiac insufficiency
In many cases, a lower dose of beta-blocker is started at the beginning of blood pressure treatment and this is gradually increased.
As a result, possible side effects can be reduced or avoided.
The same applies at the end of therapy with beta blockers: the doctor recommends that the tablets should never be stopped suddenly, but gradually tapered off.
The original evening dose is gradually reduced over weeks to zero.
Only then should you discontinue the beta blockers completely, as described in
Focus Online practical tips
.
Abruptly stopping the antihypertensive medication can result in serious side effects such as cardiac arrhythmia, a rapid rise in blood pressure or even tachycardia.
People with heart failure or a reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (angina pectoris) can even suffer a heart attack if they suddenly stop taking beta-blockers.
The higher the dose of beta blockers originally taken, the higher the risk of side effects,
Focus Online
continues.
Reasons for discontinuing the beta-blocker can be side effects of the drug from ingestion, a change of drug or a temporary therapy.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.