Introduction

Key points

• Make your medicine schedule as simple as you can. 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 them.
• Take a list of your medicines—or bring your medicines with you—when you visit your doctor. Include any medicines that were prescribed by other doctors and all your 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 medicine schedule. Your doctor may be able to change your medicines or change the times you take 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 problem.
• Consider daily or weekly pill containers. These can help you remember which medicines to take and when to take them.
• Follow healthy lifestyle habits. These include staying at a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, and following a healthy eating plan. If you do these things, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of medicine you take. And the medicines may work better.

 What do medicines do for high blood pressure?

 Why is it important to take medicines properly?

 How can you take your blood pressure medicines properly?

 Where to go from here

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