Understand and Manage Senior Medications for Heart Disease with These Tips

If you have heart disease, you know it’s vital to take your heart disease meds exactly as prescribed. But what specifically does that mean? Here are a few helpful recommendations for senior medications from Harmony Home Health & Hospice which can help you get the most from your meds:

• Be aware of which meds you’re taking. Find out their generic and brand names and make sure you fully comprehend what each one does. Go over the patient information so you’re familiar with potential side effects.
• Take your meds at the same time each day. When you partner with Harmony Home Health & Hospice, your home health aide can assist with medication management. Never stop or modify any medication without first speaking to the doctor.
• Create a list of all your medications. Include the daily dose of each one. Maintain a copy at home and one in your wallet or purse.
• If you’re having difficulty paying for your medications, ask your doctor for recommendations. Don’t skimp on dosages to try to save money. Doing so could be harmful to your health.
• Speak with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies. Some could exacerbate heart failure symptoms. These include antihistamines (such as Benadryl), antacids and NSAIDS (such as Motrin or Advil).
• Refill your prescription before running out of medicine.
• Take your medicines with you when you travel and continue to take them on your normal routine. If you’ll be away from home for an extended time, take an extra week’s supply. Keep a copy of your prescriptions with you in case you need a refill.
• Sometimes ACE inhibitors may cause you to cough. If you are coughing excessively and are not able to sleep or take care of your daily activities, call the physician.
• If you take diuretics (often called water pills), you’ll probably have to visit the restroom more frequently. If you’re advised to take one dose of a diuretic each day, take it in the morning. If you take two doses, be sure to take the second dose by late afternoon to prevent extra trips to the restroom during the night.
• Watch for signs of dehydration when taking diuretics. These might include intense thirst, dry mouth, dark-colored urine or less urine output, constipation and lightheadedness. If any of these red flags occur, check with your doctor prior to making any changes to medication or fluid intake.

The home health care experts at Harmony Home Health & Hospice can make life with heart disease much easier to manage through a wide range of customized services including support for hospice in Ogden and nearby areas. Contact us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to learn more.