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Close clinical observation minimizes the complications of beta-blocker withdrawal
G Eisele1, L L Gilmore, E B Blanchard
1Division of Nephrology, Albany Medical College, NY.
Objective:
To determine whether beta-blocker withdrawal under close medical supervision poses undue risks.
Design:
Retrospective case review. Data extracted from previous study.
Subjects:
114 hypertensive subjects tapered from beta-blocker therapy. Subjects were a subset of patients originally studied for blood pressure medication withdrawal and biofeedback training.
Main Outcome Measures:
Frequency of symptoms and adverse effects reported by subjects during medication taper to the study nurse.
Results:
Symptoms were no more likely to occur with beta-blocker withdrawal than with withdrawal of other types of antihypertensive medications. Most adverse effects were classified as minor. Two subjects experienced major symptoms. One subject required reinstitution of beta-blockers for palpitations, and another exhibited angina upon beta-blocker withdrawal.
Conclusions:
In well-screened patients under careful monitoring, withdrawal from beta-blockers appears to present a small, manageable risk.