Can I stop blood pressure medicine when my readings become normal?
Normal readings during treatment may show that the medicine is working, not that hypertension has disappeared. Do not stop or reduce it yourself. A clinician may adjust treatment after reviewing readings, lifestyle changes or adverse effects and the reason each medicine was prescribed.
Details
Collect useful readings
Use a suitable monitor, record readings and symptoms, and follow the measurement method taught by your team. Do not act on one reading or relief of a headache; high blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Discuss why you want to stop
Dizziness, fatigue, swelling or cost concerns may be addressed through a different dose, medicine or simpler plan. Improvements in salt intake, weight and activity help, but do not automatically identify which medicine can be withdrawn.
Very high readings with symptoms
Blood pressure above 180 systolic or 120 diastolic with chest pain, breathlessness, weakness or speech changes requires emergency help. Severe elevation without symptoms needs prompt clinical advice; do not randomly double a dose.
Related reading: Can medicines be stopped after losing weight?.