Q&A: Experts share 5 things to consider before you stop taking blood pressure meds

• Research presented at the 63rd European Renal Association Congress suggests that certain types of calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes who are also receiving treatment for high blood pressure.
• Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (DCCBs) may quicken the progression of kidney disease. More research is necessary to determine whether other types of calcium channel blockers may have the same effects.
• Experts discuss whether it is possible to stop taking blood pressure medication, explaining that some people instead may benefit from changing to a different type of medication or incorporating certain natural interventions, such as following the DASH diet, alongside their medical treatment.

Healthcare professionals may prescribe blood pressure medication to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Some types of blood pressure medication can include beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers.

A study presented in June 2026 at the 63rd European Renal Association Congress in Glasgow, United Kingdom, suggests that dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (DCCBs) may increase the risk of major adverse kidney events by 33% in people with type 2 diabetes, compared with other medications for hypertension.

These findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

DCCBs are a common type of calcium channel blocker for the treatment of high blood pressure. Examples of DCCBs include:

• amlodipine (Norvasc)
• felodipine (Plendil)
• isradipine (DynaCirc)
• nicardipine (Cardene)
• nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
• nimodipine (Nimotop, Nymalize)
• nisoldipine (Sular)

In a previous interview with Medical News Today, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) explained that “this data suggests that DCCBs may be associated [with] a more rapid progression of kidney disease in such patients [with diabetic kidney disease].

“This is, of course, important and concerning. There may, however, be many confounders, and the findings need to be replicated in larger cohorts, ideally prospectively, before guidelines should be significantly changed.”

In light of these findings, MNT spoke to two experts: Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished and Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC, consultative cardiologist and director of Digital Transformation Pacific Heart Institute in Santa Monica, CA.

We discussed whether it is ever safe to stop taking blood pressure medication if a person has hypertension, whether all blood pressure medications are the same, and whether any natural interventions may help manage high blood pressure.