Taking your heart medicines as prescribed by your doctor is an important part of living well with heart disease. Medicines help you to stay well and reduce the risk of future heart events. It’s important to keep taking your medicines, even if you feel well. Most people need to take their heart medicines long term following a heart event or diagnosis.
Here are some tips to help you to stay on track with your medicines.
Always follow the advice from your doctor or pharmacist on taking your heart medicines. If you have trouble taking your heart medicines, they can help you find a solution. Also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any possible side effects of your heart medicines. Ask what you should do if you get side effects.
Only take medicines that have been prescribed for you. Never share your medicines with anyone else.
Keep taking your medicines even if you feel well. This is very important. Only stop or change the dose of your medicines if your doctor has told you to. If you forget to take your medicines, take your medicines when it’s time for your next dose. Check with your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
Take your medicines at the correct time. Tips for remembering when to take your medicines include:
These simple tools can help you remember to take your medicines on time and even jog your memory when it’s time to get a new script. Make sure you always have enough supply of your medicines so you don’t run out. Get your next script filled a few days before you are due to run out of your medicines.
Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medicines. These are medicines you can buy from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop without a prescription. These include pain medicines, cold and flu medicines, supplements and vitamins. They can interact with heart medicines and some can even make heart conditions worse.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if there are any foods or drinks you should avoid. Some foods and drinks can interact with heart medicines.
Keep a list of your medicines with you – either written down or on your phone or computer. There are also free medicine tracking apps available, like MedicineWise. Make a note of:
Take the list to all your healthcare appointments.
Download our My Medicines List resource to keep track of your medicines.
If you have more questions about your medicines, speak with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Contact Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) for information on medicines, including the best ways to take and store them, and any possible side effects.
Last updated18 July 2024