Hi doctor, I am a 34 year old male and would like to state that, I have been drinking alcohol moderately from age 26 to 29. From age 29 to 32, I have been drinking almost daily. Three years back, one morning I felt a very high anxiety and when approached the doctor the attendant there measured my blood pressure and told me that it is very high. He has not given me any medicine and advised me to visit the clinic at 4 PM, when the cardiologist would be there. I came back and after taking lunch felt absolutely normal. When I visited the cardiologist at 4 PM, he measured my BP and found it to be 135/85 mmHg, he also tested the ECG and sugar which were normal. He prescribed me Metoprolol 50 mg (daily) and Clonazepam 0.5 (daily) and strictly advised me to quit drinking completely. After few days, I drank Vodka heavily. Following his advice, I left drinking completely and kept visiting him every two months and each time my BP was almost normal, say in the range 120-135/80-90 mmHg. However, the doctor continued the medicine, though he tapered Clonazepam to 0.25 daily. For one year I did not touch alcohol, but after one year I used to take it occasionally, say some cans of beer once or twice a month. Still, I am on same medication, Metoprolol 0.5 mg (one tablet a day) and Clonazepam (0.25 every alternate day). My questions are is there any need for these medications? Can I quit taking such medicines? Will there be any withdrawal symptoms? What might be the cause of that sudden anxiety and high BP in morning and it got normal after taking lunch?
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