Blood pressure medicine, Do I have to stay on it?

Question

I was told that once you take blood pressure medicine (I am taking Atenole, Not sure that I am spelling that correctly) that I will have to take it for the rest of my life?????? Is this true?? and why ??

Answer 1

You will probably be on some sort of b.p. medication all of your life but not necessarily atenolol. Lots of times that 's what the docs start you out with.

Why the b.p. meds for the rest of your life? No one is really sure what the underlying cause of hypertension is, so when you take atenolol, you are really treating the symptom, without really knowing what physiological process is involved in causing the illness in the first place.

Answer 2

No, this is not a hard and fast rule and greatly depends on the cause or causes of your hypertension. Tenormin (atenolol) is what you're currently taking.

With primary hypertension (essential hypertension) no cause for it can be found and antihypertensive therapy may be required for the remainder of the life.

With secondary hypertension, it's a result of another disease or condition. A condition can be obesity or tobacco use as well as a medical condition (diabetes). If the causative primary condition is reversible, it is possible to reverse the hypertension. If the cause is excess weight, drinking and a sedentary lifestyle, the first step in treatment is to change this if possible. Medication is step 2.

Answer 3

You'd be advised t purchase a home blood pressure monitor (available for about $45.00) and monitor your own blood pressure. You can find out what happens when you miss a day's medication, or if you cut your medication in half. But generally, taking medication everyday is a cheap alternative. I've been on blood pressure medication for over 23 years.

Answer 4

when elevated blood pressure is an established diagnosis,you should continue taking the drug life long..but here is a good news for you ..Doing exercises and controlling salt intake reduces the need to large dose of anti hypertensive drug,under supervision of your doctor of course

Answer 5

You have to unless you make major changes in your lifestyle and diet that will lower your blood pressure. My husband is on HBP meds and he didn't have to take them when he quit smoking, but once he started smoking again his BP went back up.

Answer 6

yes blood pressure doesn't go down by itself.. most blood pressure is inherited.

if you stop taking it your blood pressure will increase over time until you suffer heart attack, stroke, your hypertension is upgraded to essential or malignant. i have malignant i stopped taking it years ago when i was an essential hypertensive...

i paid dearly.

a stroke and blindness was my gift.

so don't stop taking your medication.