Best Ways to Take Blood Pressure Medicine

Sooner or later, nearly everyone must deal with high blood pressure, or hypertension. Once detected it is imperative to work with your doctor to discuss possible medications for your condition. Left untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems.

Not everyone with high blood pressure will need to take medication, but if you do a few tips and lifestyle suggestions may allow your drugs to work more efficiently while also preventing some possible side effects.

Keep It Simple

• Simplifying your blood pressure medication schedule will make it easier to remember to take the drugs. Plan to take them with meals or when you are getting ready for sleep.

  Doctors usually recommend taking your medication at the same time each day, maximizing its therapeutic value by maintaining a consistent level of the drug in your blood stream. A regular routine may also avoid skipped doses.

Coping with Side Effects

• Some blood pressure medications have side effects, which usually subside over time.

  Eating foods that are high in fiber can help prevent one of those effects, constipation. If your medication causes dizziness, remember to rise slowly when standing up from a seated position. You should also avoid standing for long periods of time.

  If you have issues with dehydration, drink plenty of liquids and minimize caffeine and alcohol consumption.

  If you experience any of these side effects and find them to be bothersome, talk to your doctor about changing medications, lowering the dose or possibly adding a new medication that will treat the side effects.

Resistant Hypertension

• In some cases, lowering your blood pressure can be difficult. If the levels fail to go down despite taking at least three hypertension medications that include a diuretic, you could be dealing with resistant hypertension.

  That condition does not mean that your situation is hopeless and that you'll never be able to reduce your blood pressure. You and your doctor may have to work a little harder to pinpoint what's causing those chronically high levels. Sometimes patients must test various medications or doses before finding a successful treatment.

  It can take time to find an effective combination of medications to control hypertension. Still, it's imperative to bring your readings to a safe level to prevent such health issues as heart disease, kidney failure and loss of vision.