Forgetting to Take Your Blood Pressure Medication?

Forgetting to Take Your Blood Pressure Medication?

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First of all, blood pressure medication is critical to health

Second of all,  one should not make a habit of skipping the daily dose.  Finally, MED-Q offers these tips will help you stay on track as well as keep your  hypertension under control.

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 Blood Pressure Medication
Med-Q Prevents serious medication errors

It’s is hard  to remember to take your blood pressure medication every day. However, proper dosing is critical. If you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, medications can lower blood pressure.  Hence, lowering the risk of serious health problems..  For example, heart attack, stroke, stroke as well as congestive heart failure.

Get in the Habit of Taking Your Blood Pressure Medication

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Remind yourself why you’re taking blood pressure medication

 Blood Pressure Medication“Take a step backward and say to yourself, ‘Why am I taking this medication to begin with?’”, says David Meyerson, MD, JD, director of cardiology consultation services at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and national spokesperson for the American Heart Association.. He recommends that you think about why your doctor wrote you a prescription for blood pressure medication in the first place, and use that answer as motivation. Another motivator: Family history. Many people with high blood pressure have family

  • members who have had strokes or heart attacks. “You have to understand that history will repeat itself unless we do something to interrupt it,” says Meyerson.
  • Keep your blood pressure medication in a convenient location. Put it where you’ll see it, such as on the nightstand by your bed. Meyerson says that many people intend to take their blood pressure medication before leaving the house in the morning, but then don’t. If this sounds familiar, Meyerson suggests keeping a few pills with you or in your desk at the
  • office, in case you miss your morning dose.
  • Keep your prescription filled. Another common reason that people miss doses of their blood pressure medication is because they run out before getting a refill. “Plan ahead so that you don’t run out,” says Meyerson. To help you with this, try making a note in your calendar when it is time to re-order and pick up your prescription.
  • Take a medication you can afford. If the cost of your medication is keeping you from taking it as you should, talk with your doctor. “Many doctors who prescribe medications don’t
  • actually know what the patient ends up being charged,” says Meyerson. He suggests working with your doctor to find a hypertension medication that is both effective and affordable for you.
  • Communicate any side effects you’re experiencing. Sometimes people avoid taking their blood pressure medication because it causes unpleasant side effects. Meyerson says there are many drug options for lowering blood pressure, and your doctor can find the right one for you. “The doctor has the ability to choose from a large group of medications, but he
    • will not know if you are not tolerating a medication unless you clearly tell him,” he says.

    What to Do When You Miss a Dose

    “Everybody that I have ever heard of that takes a medication misses a dose from time to time,” says Meyerson. If you miss a single dose of blood pressure medication, it is usually not a problem. But it is important not to get off track about taking your blood pressure medication since regular doses can help lower blood pressure and reduce the chances that you will have blood pressure-related health problems.

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If you can’t remember whether you took your medication, what do you do?

What happens if you don’t remember if you took your medications?  When one is not sure if you took a pill, never, ever just take another dose yet. What could happen if you double dose?  If someone ingests an additional dose, the consequences can be deadly. In fact, an extra dose can raise the risk of harmful effects. Check your pill organizer, count the remaining pills in the bottle, or review the instructions that came with your prescription to find specific guidance. 

doctorHealth care profsionals are in agreement, “For most medications, it is safer to accidentally miss a single dose than to double dose” . Keep in mind that the pill/dosing guidelines vary drastically depending on the medication.  For example, it is different for  blood thinners or something like birth control.), it is always best to double-check with a professional.  If in doubt, call the local pharmacy you got the prescription filled.  Also, call e the America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 .  This can help if you are concerned about over dosing. 

For further guidance, consult I can’t remember whether I took my medication, what do I do? on Medical News Today. To help prevent confusion in the future, you can implement some 9 Simple Strategies for Remembering To Take Your Medication or read the Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Medication guide on WebMD.
 
If you are missing doses consistently, a few strategies can help get your routine back on track:
  • Use a weekly pillbox: These old fashion pill holders can be useful.   They show a quick visual cue to show which days  doses have been taken.
  • Use a Digital Pill Reminder: Medication reminders, like the Med-Q pill Box. have flashing guides.  These alarmed reminders help preventing over dosing. 
  • Try to do Habit stacking: Match up your daily pill-taking with a non-negotiable daily habit.  For example, your first cup of coffee or brushing yourhair.
  • Set electronic reminders: Use persistent reminder apps, alarm clocks, or simple smart phone alarm reminders.

What to do if Unsure?

The worry about over doing is real.  When unsure whether the dose has been taken, the best thing to do is speak with your health care provider or even your pharmacist. They will  advise you on the best course of action based on ythe specific medication. that is over dosed.

pill box for seniors

If you take oral tablets or capsules, you can count how many pills you have left. If you know when you started taking the pills out of that prescription bottle, this could help you determine whether you’ve taken your dose for that day.

Sometimes, when you haven’t taken your medication, there may still be time to take that dose. However, this could depend on the drug and dosing schedule.

Although in some cases, if it’s almost time to take your next dose, your doctor may recommend skipping the missed dose and taking your next dose at its regular time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose as doing so could raise your risk of side effects.

What happens if you accidentally take your medication twice?

Do not take more of a drug than your doctor prescribes. While serious side effects may be rare, for some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose. Some of the most dangerous medications to double-dose include:

  • heart maintenece medications
  • ADHD drugs, for example “Adderall”
  • medications for Type 1 Diabetes
  • prescription narcotic pain pills
  • psychiatric medications , for example “Wellbutrin.”

If you have any doubt, act quickly. 

Fist of all, contact your doctor right away.  Let them know you may have accidentally taken two doses or three doses of your daily medication. They will offer up advice.  The Healthcare profesional can often advise of what steps to take.  Also, they will let you know about symptoms to watch out for.

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