Rebound Hypertension on Discontinuation of Beta-Blockers or Other Medications

 

Drugs that may show a rebound hypertension:

(1) beta-blockers (beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents)

(2) methyldopa, clonidine or other centrally-acting alpha-receptor agonist

 

Clinical features:

(1) long-term therapy with the implicated drug (long-term beta-blocker therapy is associated with an increase in beta-adrenergic receptors)

(2) abrupt discontinuation

(3) normalization of the blood pressure once the body adjusts

 

Differential diagnosis:

(1) Discontinuation of a drug that is used to control hypertension can result in reappearance of the hypertension. In this case the elevated blood pressure persists.