Medication needs vary for each person. Your doctor or nurse will work with you to find the best medications to relieve symptoms,
improve your heart failure condition, and improve your sense of well-being. Remember, medications are intended to reverse or help prevent the
processes that make heart failure worse. Medications improve your symptoms, but they cannot cure heart failure. Even if you do not have symptoms,
some heart failure medications must be taken daily to prevent your heart muscle function from worsening. Taking your heart
failure medications as prescribed is one of the most important things you can do to manage your heart failure.
- Know the names of your medications and how they
work. Know the generic and brand names, dosages and side effects of your
medications. Always keep a list of your medications with you.
- Take your medications as scheduled, at the same time every day. Do not stop taking or change your medications unless you first
talk with your doctor or nurse. Even if you feel good, continue to take your medications. Stopping your medications suddenly can make your condition worse.
- If your condition does not improve or becomes worse, call your doctor or nurse.
- Have a routine for taking your medications. Get a
pill box that is marked with the days of the week. Fill the pill box at the
beginning of each week to make it easier for you to remember.
- Keep a medicine calendar and note every time you
take a dose. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose,
but your doctor or nurse may change your dosage periodically, depending on your
response to the medication. On your medication calendar, you can list any
changes in your medication dosages as prescribed by your doctor or nurse.
- Do not decrease your medication dosage to save
money. You must take the full amount to get the full benefits. Talk with your
doctor or nurse about ways you can reduce the costs of your medications. Do not
take more or less of the medication than your doctor or nurse prescribed.
- Do not take any over-the-counter drugs, nutrition
supplements or herbal therapies unless you ask your doctor or nurse first.
Some drugs such as antacids, salt substitutes, decongestants (such as Sudafed®
and Afrin®), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen such as Advil®,
Aleve®,Genpril®, Indocin®, Medipren®, Midol®, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Pamprin®,
PediaProfen® and Rufen®) can worsen heart failure symptoms or interfere with the
action of certain heart failure medications.
- For relief of aches, pains, and/or fever, take
acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®) and avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(such as Motrin® or Advil®).
- If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you
remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose
and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses to make up
for the dose you missed.
- Regularly fill your prescriptions and ask your
pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. Do not wait
until you are completely out of medication before filling your prescriptions. If
you have trouble getting to the pharmacy, have financial concerns, or have other
problems that make it difficult for you to get your medications, let your doctor
or nurse know. A social worker is available to help you.
- Throw away old medication after the expiration date has passed.
- When traveling, keep your medications with you so
you can take them as scheduled. On longer trips, take an extra week’s supply of
medications and copies of your prescriptions, in case you need to get a refill.
- Don’t share your medication with anyone.
- Before having surgery with a general anesthetic, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist in charge what heart
failure medications you are taking. You may need to take an antibiotic before your surgical or dental procedure.
- Do not stop taking your medication, even if you feel that it is not working.
- Some medications may alter your heart rate and/or blood pressure.
- Medications that relax constricted blood vessels may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness when standing or getting out of
bed, sit or lie down for a few minutes to increase your blood pressure. Then get up more slowly.
- Diuretics ("water pills") increase your urine output.
If you take a single dose of diuretic each day, take it in the morning. If you
are taking two diuretic doses each day, take the second dose in the late
afternoon (around 4 p.m.) so you can sleep through the night.
- Diuretics ("water pills") can
cause dehydration (excessive loss of water). Signs of dehydration are:
dizziness, extreme thirst, dryness of the mouth, less urine output, dark-colored
urine, and constipation. If these symptoms occur, do NOT assume you need more
fluids. Call your doctor or nurse if these symptoms occur.
- Ask your doctor or nurse if you need to take an
effective form of birth control or if you need to stop breastfeeding while
taking certain heart failure medications. Some medications may cause birth
defects or other problems if taken during pregnancy.
- You may be asked to get blood drawn to monitor drug effects and/or side effects.
- Keep all scheduled appointments with your doctor and the laboratory so your response to medications can be monitored.
Sources
http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/5360_HFGuidelineFinal.pdf
http://www.hfsa.org/hf_guidelines.asp