High blood pressure: Taking medicines properly
Introduction
High blood pressure is a lifelong disease that, if not controlled, can lead to heart or kidney disease and stroke. Even though you may not feel sick when you have high blood pressure, taking your medicine exactly as directed helps lower your risk for these conditions.
The amount and types of medicines you take will depend on your blood pressure reading, whether you have organ damage from high blood pressure, and whether you have other medical conditions. Follow your doctor's recommendations carefully, and do not skip any of your medicines.
Key points:
- Make your medication schedule as simple as possible. Plan times to take your medicines when you are doing other things, like eating a meal or getting ready for bed. This will make it easier for you to remember to take your medicines.
- Take a list of your medicines or bring your medicines with you when you visit your doctor. Include any medicines that were prescribed to you by other doctors and any nonprescription medicines. Review the list with your doctor and discuss any side effects you are having or need to watch for.
- Talk with your doctor if you are having problems with your medication schedule. Your doctor may be able to change your medicines or change the times you are taking them.
- Talk with your doctor if you have any changes in your health that might affect your blood pressure, such as weight gain, side effects of medicines, or another medical condition.
- Use any tools, like daily or weekly pill containers, that make taking your medicines simple.
- Follow healthy lifestyle habits, including maintaining a healthy weight; exercising; not smoking; and following an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and less salt. This may allow your doctor to reduce the amount of medicine you take and will help the medicines work better.
What do medications do for high blood pressure?
Why is it important that I take my medications properly?
How can I take my blood pressure medications properly?
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: April 24, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition | |
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