Sudden discontinuation of antihypertensive drug can associated with elevation of blood pressure and increase of sympathetic activity.
Antihypertensive withdrawal
Antihypertensive drugs are drugs that must be consumed by people with hypertension on a regular and long-term basis.
Some commonly used antihypertensive drugs:
ACEi : captopril, lisinopril, ramipril
ARB : candesartan, valsartan, losartan
CCB : amlodipine, nicardipine
Diuretics : furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide
Beta-blocker : labetolol, propranolol
Alpha-blocker : terazosin, doxazosin
The function of antihypertensive drug is not only to lower blood pressure, there are some which are antiremodeling of heart tissue (such as ACEi and ARBs), reducing sympathetic activity (beta-blockers, alpha-blockers).
If antihypertensive drugs are stopped suddenly, of course the main function (lowering blood pressure) will disappear so that there will be an increase in blood pressure. This increase in blood pressure can occur immediately or in the long term.
If the increase in blood pressure occurs suddenly and the increase is high enough, a thing called a hypertensive crisis can occur. Hypertensive crisis with end organ damage (stroke, coronary heart disease, acute kidney injury, etc) is called a hypertensive emergency. In these circumstances, blood pressure must be lowered immediately so that the end organ damage does not increase and also to reduce mortality.
In addition, increased sympathetic activity will increase blood pressure and heart rate. This can lead to coronary heart disease and even death.
Learn more about hypertension here: https://brainly.com/question/28582661
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