Managing Your Heart Medications

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This serious condition occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed due to plaque buildup.

The good news is living with heart disease is more than possible with medication management. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to manage heart disease or to treat the underlying diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, or to prevent chest pain.

Lifestyle changes are equally important, even if you take medications.

• Losing weight
• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising
• Reducing stress
• Not smoking

Doctors usually prescribe one or a combination of several medications to help control heart disease.

These are a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. They are designed to lower blood pressure. ACE inhibitors are medicines with names that end in PRIL like Lisinopril (Zestril) and diBenazepril (Lotensin).

These medicines are used to lower blood pressure and decrease the heart’s workload Beta blockers are the medicines that end with OLOL like metoprolol, propranolol, and atenolol.

This group of medicines works by reducing blood pressure and allowing the blood vessels to relax. These typically end in IPINA like amlodipine or nifedipine.

A large class of medications exists to help control blood sugar. These are important because they lower the risk for complications, especially if you have heart disease and diabetes. Common medicines in this group are liraglutide, empagliflozin and metformin. Metformin is one of the most prescribed medications to control the hardening of the arteries.

Nitrates like nitroglycerin work to relax blood vessels and increase the supply of oxygen and blood to the heart while reducing the heart’s workload. Nitroglycerin helps relieve chest pain and the medicine dissolves under the tongue or between the cheek and gum. Ranolazine is prescribed to treat coronary microvascular disease and to treat chest pain.

These medications are taken to control high blood cholesterol. They work by blocking the substance your body uses to make cholesterol. 

A stent is a small mesh tube surgically implanted to open narrowed or weak blood vessels. Stents are used to prevent strokes in patients who have normal cholesterol but also have diabetes or heart disease. 

Also referred to as anticoags, anticoagulants prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries. Blood clots can be dangerous if they enter the blood supply, potentially causing stroke or heart attack.

 A side effect is an unwanted symptom or feeling that you experience when taking medicine. Most cause a minor inconvenience and aren’t serious. Side effects may start or stop suddenly while taking medicine because there are a lot of variables. Always talk to your doctor if you are uncertain about a side effect.

All medicines have the potential for side effects. Your likelihood of experiencing side effects depends on your age, weight, gender, health condition, and other medications that you're taking.

Common side effects include a dry cough, fatigue, headache, weight gain, constipation, dizziness or upset stomach. Metformin may cause upset stomach while ranolazine can sometimes cause dizziness or a fast heart rate. Most common side effects for statins are muscle pain, elevated liver enzymes, and higher blood sugar. Side effects of anticoagulants are bleeding, diarrhea, constipation and nausea.

When taking medicine for a long time, it’s natural to forget a dosage or struggle managing multiple medications. If you’re taking medicine at different times during the day or feel overwhelmed by the routine, visit with your doctor or healthcare team to find a simpler way to manage. Avoid stopping any prescribed dosages without your doctor’s approval.

Tips to help remember to take your medications:

1. Create a routine around a time of day like eating lunch or brushing your teeth. Stick with that same time.
2. Keep your medicine in a visible spot. Avoid putting it in a cabinet or somewhere out of sight.
3. Pill boxes are easy, inexpensive ways to organize and keep track of medicines. You can visually see if you miss a dose, and many are divided by time of day.
4. Set a daily alarm on your phone or any other mobile device. 

It’s tricky keeping track of all your medication refills, especially if you’re managing multiple conditions at once. Today, you can choose from many convenient options like by mail or online to refill prescriptions.  Other suggestions:

• Use the same pharmacy or pharmacist for all prescriptions to keep track of records and so the pharmacist can check any drug interactions.
• Set up automatic refills to streamline the process. You can request text, email or a call as a reminder when prescriptions are ready.

Check your prescription label carefully before leaving the pharmacist or upon receipt to make sure it’s correct. Contact your pharmacist if something appears wrong.

Taking prescription medications is a significant cost, especially for seniors who may be on a fixed income. Finding ways to save money is critical for those on long-term drug routines.

Here are a few things to consider.

1. Ask your pharmacist about a generic option
2. Bring your formulary, a list provided by your insurance showing what insurance covers, to your doctor so he can know best what to prescribe.
3. Ask your pharmacist about discounts or buying in bulk. You can also request samples from your doctor.

• Medicare Extra Help program helps some people with limited resources and income. The number is 1-800-772-1213
• Consider programs like the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program.
   This is offered in many states to help people pay for drug plan premiums and other drug costs.
• Visit www.medicare.gov in your state and the Pharmacist Assistant Program, PAP.

Related articles:

Medication management tips for seniors

Heart health tips

Cholesterol health tips

Content contained on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your health care provider before beginning any new fitness or dietary plan. References provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Should you have any health-related questions, you should contact your health care provider.