which drugs need to be tapered to avoid withdrawal or rebound symptoms
Patients often don't know which drugs need to be tapered to avoid withdrawal or rebound symptoms.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach...but there are some general principles to keep in mind.
For example, abruptly stopping beta-blockers (metoprolol, etc) or clonidine can cause rebound hypertension. Suggest tapering most beta-blockers over 1 to 2 weeks...and clonidine over at least 2 to 4 days.
Get concise advice on drug therapy, plus unlimited access to CE
Pharmacist's Letter Canada includes:
- 12 issues every year, with brief articles about new meds and hot topics
- 200+ CE courses, including the popular CE-in-the-Letter
- Quick reference drug comparison charts
- Access to the entire archive