question: I have side effects from 2 medicines that I am taking. They are for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. I have taken them for about a year and 3 months. I believe I am toxic to these medicines at this point and I am worried about taking them. What is the best way to taper the medicines? This happened once before and I ended up in the intensive care for 7 days due to the medicines. I also had elevated potassium and was in critical condition for a short time. The heart problem was not present any longer and I had been taking the medicines for several years. No one knew why the heart was not a problem any longer. Some doctors thought that I had a virus that attacked the heart. The echo was 35 and I had heart failure diagnosed 2 different times now. But, the first time, it went away after taking medications for several years and maybe the same thing has happened this time. I have a cardiologist but he wanted to operate. He can not tell what is wrong with my heart so I have not agreed to have surgery at this point. What would you recommend? I think I am in more danger from the medications at this point than from the heart