Increased risk of discontinuation syndrome | | |
Antianginal agent | Recurrence | Angina |
Anticonvulsant | Withdrawal, recurrence | Anxiety, depression, seizures |
Benzodiazepine | Withdrawal, rebound, recurrence: common strategy is to taper by 10% of the dose every 1–2 wk until the dose is at 20% of the original dose, then taper by 5% every 2–4 wk | Seizures, agitation, anxiety, delirium, insomnia |
Beta-blocker | Rebound, recurrence | Angina, hypertension, acute coronary syndrome, tachycardia |
Corticosteroid | Withdrawal, rebound, recurrence if used long term | Anorexia, hypotension, nausea, suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis |
Decreased risk of discontinuation syndrome | | |
ACE inhibitor | Recurrence | Heart failure, hypertension |
Antipsychotic | Withdrawal, recurrence:
When used for behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia, taper dose with goal to stop drug every 3 mo or more if clinically appropriate (taper by 25% every 1–2 wk) Some behaviours decline as disease worsens
| Dyskinesias, insomnia, nausea, restlessness |
Anticholinergic | Withdrawal | Anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness |
Digoxin | Recurrence: patients can usually be followed for signs and symptoms of heart failure and medication restarted as needed | Heart failure, tachycardia |
Diuretic | Recurrence | Heart failure, hypertension, edema |
Narcotic analgesia | Withdrawal: if medication used long term, tapering will decrease risk of physical withdrawal | Abdominal cramping, anxiety, chills, diaphoresis, diarrhea, insomnia |