Stopping blood pressure meds

[KizzyKoala]

I started BP meds for high BP a couple of years ago. I’ve now lost almost 3 stone. Thinking of trying to stop them to see if BP has reduced with the reduced weight (I’m now into normal BMI). Has anyone done this? Can I cut down by taking half a tablet for a couple of weeks then stop if BP is ok?

I am on Losartan 50mg tablets

Speak to your GP.

Get yourself a home blood pressure monitor (they're not expensive as you can get one for about £15), take your blood pressure on a regular basis and consult a chart like this one https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings and then make an appointment with your GP with your results written down.

One of the effects of WLI is the lowering of blood pressure. It is not a good idea to just stop taking blood pressure medication

Do it under GP supervision. Maybe you can taper down rather than just stopping but you’d need GP support for this

I guarantee and promise you that even thin people have high blood pressure, @KizzyKoala
I used to work for a cardiologist - a heart doctor.
I know what I’m talking about.

Please discontinue and/or change your medications only under your physician’s supervision.

Edit:
Congrats on the 3 stone! I bet you look - and feel - absolutely fabulous. Good on you!
I apologise for adding this on - I freaked out about the BP meds.
Sending love from across a big ocean ❤️

No of course not, you need to do this under gp supervision. You can have rebound high blood pressure.

make a gp appt. Take your readings at home.

my gp monitored me, I was on max dose of two meds, she cut it down monthly by a small amount as my bp was dropping, until eventually I was off completely, my blood pressure was heavily monitored throughout.

Congratulations on the 3st loss!

I stopped blood pressure meds last year, with approval from my GP.

I had been recording my home blood pressure for a whole week each month and sent app downloads to GP which showed it decreasing over a year as I lost weight. The annual GP surgery readings had also decreased significantly. So we knew that the weight loss had improved my readings.

After stopping the meds I have continued to do full week monitoring every 4-6 weeks. Now have low blood pressure 🤦🏻‍♀️

Do you have readings to suggest your weight loss has reduced your blood pressure, even though medicated, you would probably see it has reduced. I would definitely recommend a home monitor and don’t do anything without your GP.

There’s evidence to suggest that weight loss drugs themselves might reduce BP so that, combined with your weight loss could be factors.

I’m also on BP meds and have also lost 3 stone. My BP has reduced from around 160/87 at my heaviest to currently (most days), 120/79. I’ve still got another 2.5 stone to go so if it reduces further, I’ll talk to my GP.

My problem is that I have a bad case of ‘white coat syndrome’ so my BP is always horribly inflated when taken in the surgery, which means the GP will likely be reluctant to reduce meds. At home when I’m relaxed, it’s normal though.

This.^
And congratulations on getting your weight down!

Thank you for the replies.

I wasn’t sure that any reduction due to weight loss would show whilst I was still on the meds.

I have a home monitor and it shows normal but it has done since the meds. I will monitor more closely and regularly and then contact my GP and ask what they think.

Would the meds be making it too low if I no longer needed them or would it just hold at normal?

Speak to your gp

It really depends on what’s causing your blood pressure issues, mine reduced with weight, so the bp meds made it too low, but if yours is normal it appears not to be rhe case, you really need to see your doctor, we can’t advise and you can’t just stop taking them,

My mil is as thin as a rail (like bones with skin) and her bp is sky high.
Dont assume you'll be fine, you might be but you might not

Talk to your gp and get a bp cuff (about £30 on amazon)