If you have heart disease, managing it might feel overwhelming, especially if you need to take a lot of medications throughout the day or if side effects are impacting the way you feel. But taking your medication is important for staying healthy. These tips can help make it easier to manage your medications and deal with any side effects.
Why is it important to take your medications when you have heart disease?
Staying on track with your medication plan is one of the best ways to protect your health and feel better. Here’s why it’s important to take your medication as directed:
- Medications help manage your condition and prevent things from getting worse.
- They can lower your blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and keep your heart working well.
- They help regulate important functions. “Medication can control the rhythm of your heart and your blood pressure and can prevent blood clots from forming,” said Sharon Powell, NP, a heart specialist with Banner - University Medicine.
- Taking medications correctly can help them be more effective and help avoid interactions. “For example, some medications cannot be taken with grapefruit juice as this changes the way they are absorbed,” Powell said.
- Not taking your medications as prescribed can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other major issues.
What makes it easier to follow a medication plan?
It can be hard to remember to take your medications every day. These tips can make it easier:
- Create a routine: Try taking your medications at the same time every day. Pair them with something you do daily, like brushing your teeth or having a meal. This helps you remember to take them.
- Use medication reminders: Set an alarm on your phone or use a medication reminder app. You can also use a pill box with different compartments for each day of the week. “A pill box keeps your medications in one place and can help you remember if you took your medications,” Powell said.
- Place your pill box strategically: “Include your medications in a routine. Put your pill box in a place that will help you remember to take them, such as by your coffee pot if you have medications that you need to take in the morning. Try placing a bedtime medication next to your toothbrush,” Powell said.
- Talk to your health care provider: If your medication plan feels confusing, ask your provider or pharmacist to help you understand it better. They can help you simplify it or make it more manageable.
- Keep a medication list: Write down all the medications you take, including the dose and the time of day. This makes it easier to track what you're taking and avoid missed doses.
- Ask about combination pills: Some medications can be combined into one pill, which makes it easier to take fewer pills throughout the day. Ask your health care provider if this is an option for you.
- Ask about packaging your pills: Some pharmacies will package together all the pills you take at the same time, so you don’t have to sort or organize them.
How can you manage medication side effects?
Sometimes, medications can cause side effects. You could feel tired, dizzy or sick to your stomach. These side effects can make it harder to stick to your plan but there are ways to manage them:
- Know what to expect: Some side effects, like having a mild upset stomach or feeling a little tired, can be common. Knowing what side effects to watch for can help you prepare.
- Talk to your health care provider: If you have side effects that last a long time or are having a strong impact on you, talk to your provider. They may be able to adjust your medication or suggest ways to reduce side effects.
- Track your symptoms: Keep a note of when side effects happen. Write down things like when they started and how long they last. This will help your provider figure out what’s going on.
- Adjust your timing to lower the impact of side effects: “Some side effects can be more tolerable if you take the medication at bedtime. For example, you can notice a flushing feeling after taking a statin, but if you take it when you go to bed, you don’t notice this effect as much,” Powell said.
- Time water pills so you don’t need to get up in the night: “If you take a water pill like furosemide twice a day, try taking the second dose around 4 p.m. so you are not up using the restroom as much at night. You do not need to take the doses 12 hours apart,” Powell said.
- Lifestyle tips: Drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can help manage some side effects like tiredness or digestive issues.
When should you talk to your health care provider about managing medications?
Your provider is your partner in managing heart disease. If you’re having trouble with your medications or if the side effects are too much to handle, let them know right away. They can help you find the right solution, whether it’s changing your medication, adjusting the dose or recommending ways to manage side effects.
Talk to your provider if you are having any trouble getting your medications. “Please don’t assume that if a medication has not been filled by the pharmacy that you no longer need to take it,” Powell said.
“If you find that you’re running out of medications, see if you can get 90-day prescriptions or if you can have your medication delivered by mail. Steps like these will help make sure you always have the medication you need,” Powell said.
How can support help?
It’s not always easy to manage your medications on your own. Having a support system can help you stay on track. Family members, friends or caregivers can remind you to take your meds and help you when side effects become overwhelming.
You can also connect with other people who are going through similar experiences through online or in-person support groups. They can offer tips and advice to help make managing your heart disease easier.
The bottom line on medications for heart disease
Taking your medications as prescribed is an important part of managing heart disease. By creating a routine, using reminders and talking to your health care provider, you can make managing your medications a little easier. If side effects are a problem, your provider can help you find a solution.
If you’re not sure about your medications or how to manage your heart disease, reach out to your primary care provider or an expert at Banner Health.
