How to Use High Blood Pressure Medications

You recently were diagnosed as having high blood pressure. That means you must start maintaining a healthier weight, cut down on salt, exercise more, monitor your alcohol consumption and-most important-take blood pressure pills. Taking your high blood pressure medication as prescribed will have you feeling better and put you on the road to a healthier you!

Things You'll Need

• Doctor's prescription
• Blood pressure medication
• Calendar for keeping track
• Pillbox

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Instructions

• 1

  Become familiar with the possible side effects associated with using high blood pressure medication. They may include: lethargy, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, allergy-like symptoms, depression, joint pain or swelling, rash, irregular bowel movements and headaches.

• 2

  Find out if your medicine has any drug interaction warnings or if you should stay away from any foods.

• 3

  Know when to take your medication. Certain high blood pressure medications must be taken before bed. That allows them to start doing their job overnight to minimize any blood pressure increase at the start of the day. Other meds may cause sleepiness and also should be taken in the evening.

• 4

  Establish a routine to take your blood pressure medication. That could mean taking your pill at a specified time each day, reminding yourself with Post-it® Notes, marking it on a special medication calendar, using a pillbox or set up daily reminders on your computer.

• 5

  Understand the different drugs. Your doctor can prescribe one of several blood pressure medicines. A diuretic works to eliminate salt and water from your body and control your pressure. Beta blockers will lower blood pressure by regulating the heart rate. Other effective drugs for lowering your pressure are vasodilators, ace inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. Their job is to calm down and widen narrowed blood vessels.