Which of the following classes of drugs can cause rebound hypertension if discontinued abruptly?

Beta-blockers are known to cause rebound hypertension if discontinued abruptly due to their mechanism of action and the body's physiological response. In chronic use, beta-blockers lower heart rate and blood pressure by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors, which help in reducing the overall sympathetic tone of the cardiovascular system.

When beta-blockers are suddenly stopped, there is a rebound effect where the body, which has adapted to the presence of these medications, can experience an increase in sympathetic activity. This results in a sudden rise in blood pressure that can be significant, potentially leading to hypertensive crises. This phenomenon is particularly important for individuals with a history of cardiovascular issues, as the sudden change can pose serious health risks.

Other classes of antihypertensives, such as calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, do not typically induce a rebound hypertensive effect when discontinued. While stopping these medications can lead to a gradual return of hypertension to pre-treatment levels, they do not provoke the same acute physiological reactions that beta-blockers do. This makes understanding the discontinuation protocols for beta-blockers particularly critical in managing patients with hypertension.