Which class of antihypertensive drugs requires careful tapering to avoid rebound hypertension?

Beta-blockers are a class of antihypertensive drugs that require careful tapering when discontinuing therapy to avoid rebound hypertension. This phenomenon occurs because beta-blockers block the effects of catecholamines, which can lead to an upregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors. When a patient suddenly stops taking beta-blockers, there can be an exaggerated response to circulating catecholamines, resulting in a rapid increase in blood pressure, also known as rebound hypertension.

In practice, this means that when a patient is being transitioned off beta-blockers, it is essential to gradually reduce the dose over a period of time, rather than stopping abruptly. This is particularly important for patients who have been on beta-blockers for an extended period or those with certain underlying cardiovascular conditions, as the risk of rebound hypertension is higher in these populations.

While other classes of antihypertensive medications, such as ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, can have their own withdrawal effects, they do not typically lead to rebound hypertension in the same manner as beta-blockers. Diuretics, while they may cause changes in fluid volume upon cessation, do not usually cause significant rebound hypertension either. Therefore, tapering beta-blockers is a crucial practice to prevent adverse