Withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs in older people

Plain language conclusions:

  • It may be safe to stop antihypertensive medications in older people who are taking the medication for high blood pressure or primary prevention of heart disease
  • Older adults should not stop any of their medications with out talking to a healthcare professional
  • Future studies should include older adults who are taking multiple other medications and/or living with frailty

Read this priority review: Withdrawal of antihypertensive drugs in older people

This review was featured in Issue 104 of the Cochrane Journal Club

Aimed at trainees, researchers, and practitioners, each Journal Club covers a single Cochrane Review of special interest, selected from the new and updated reviews published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. They highlight practice-changing findings, controversial conclusions, new methodology, evidence-based methods, and reviews from diverse health and social care topics. The Journal Club resources provide everything you need to present a relevant and interesting paper at your next journal club, or simply to explore a review in more depth on your own.

Download the clinical case and discussion questions on this review.  You may also subscribe to the Journal Club mailing list to receive a new clinical case each month.