[jyl]

Started taking a BP med (atenolol, a beta blocker) around 30 y/o. I had a high resting pulse (100 bpm sitting around during the day), the drug lowered it and thus my BP (which was 150/100 unmedicated).

I was on that BP med for almost 20 years.

On doctor's recommendation, stopped taking it a couple years ago. My resting pulse has come down (about 55-60 sitting around during the day, around 45 on first awakening) and my BP averages about 130/80 unmedicated.

So, it is sometimes possible to get off BP meds.

(Caveat: when I have my annual, I will ask the doc if I should still be off BP meds given the fluctuation in BP I observe during the day. It does go high at times during work stress.)