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Is Possible To Quit BP Medication With Healthy Diet And Life Style?
Question: My husband had 2 stints put in in 2004. He has been taking lisinopril 20 mg tablet 1 X a day, metroprol tartrate 50 mg tablet 1/2 twice a day, along with an adult low dose aspirin. His blood pressure was 112/64 on Dr visit 9/3/2015. He is 71 yrs old, 5`9" & weighs 170lbs. We have been on a plant, seed, beans, low salt eating plan for over 4 months now. He lost 30 lbs in that time. We also walk briskly for about 45 min 4-5 times each week. Will it ever be possible for him to get off of his blood pressure medications? Thank you for your help.
Brief Answer:
Dose reduction or even antihypertensive therapy withdrawal is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that blood pressure medications are not unchangeable. Antihypertensive therapy is adjustable (doses and combinations) according to the patient clinical conditions (blood pressure values, concomitant health disorders, potential mediation adverse effects, etc.).
Coming to your husband concrete clinical situation, I would explain that lisinopril 20 mg once and metoprolol 50 mg (2x1/2 tab) daily are considered quite a simple (non complex), almost an antihypertensive mono-therapy (because 50 mg metoprolol doesn't offer any substantial antihypertensive effect), which offers a good treatment adherence (lisinopril is taken only once daily).
So, I would say that this is not considered an exhaustive medication scheme with numerous daily doses leading to a possible non-adherence.
But, from the other side, as your husband has achieved a great success regarding body weight control, coupled with other effective BP lowering attempts like a healthy diet and daily physically active profile (which may lead to better BP values management), it is quite possible to see the opportunity of reducing lisinopril daily dose to 10 mg and check continuously the BP values balance for a couple of days (close BP value measurements several times daily) and discuss with his prescribing doctor about a possible and gradual lisinopril dose reduction (judging from the ongoing BP values).
If a substantial BP decrease trend or at least a balanced BP control (under reduced lisinopril dose) is observed, then it is quite possible to further decrease daily dose or even gradually withdraw it, as well.
You need to discuss with his doctor about the above mentioned issues.
Regarding aspirin, it is strongly recommended to keep using it continuously as he needs everlasting stents protection.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Dose reduction or even antihypertensive therapy withdrawal is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that blood pressure medications are not unchangeable. Antihypertensive therapy is adjustable (doses and combinations) according to the patient clinical conditions (blood pressure values, concomitant health disorders, potential mediation adverse effects, etc.).
Coming to your husband concrete clinical situation, I would explain that lisinopril 20 mg once and metoprolol 50 mg (2x1/2 tab) daily are considered quite a simple (non complex), almost an antihypertensive mono-therapy (because 50 mg metoprolol doesn't offer any substantial antihypertensive effect), which offers a good treatment adherence (lisinopril is taken only once daily).
So, I would say that this is not considered an exhaustive medication scheme with numerous daily doses leading to a possible non-adherence.
But, from the other side, as your husband has achieved a great success regarding body weight control, coupled with other effective BP lowering attempts like a healthy diet and daily physically active profile (which may lead to better BP values management), it is quite possible to see the opportunity of reducing lisinopril daily dose to 10 mg and check continuously the BP values balance for a couple of days (close BP value measurements several times daily) and discuss with his prescribing doctor about a possible and gradual lisinopril dose reduction (judging from the ongoing BP values).
If a substantial BP decrease trend or at least a balanced BP control (under reduced lisinopril dose) is observed, then it is quite possible to further decrease daily dose or even gradually withdraw it, as well.
You need to discuss with his doctor about the above mentioned issues.
Regarding aspirin, it is strongly recommended to keep using it continuously as he needs everlasting stents protection.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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