Heart Disease Health Center

Heart Disease Medication Tips

Tips About Specific Heart Medications

• Heart disease drugs that relax constricted blood vessels may cause dizziness. If you get dizzy when standing or getting out of bed, sit or lie down for a few minutes. This will increase your blood pressure. Then, get up more slowly.
• ACE inhibitors may increase cough. If coughing is keeping you up at night or interfering with your daily activities, contact your doctor.
• Diuretics ("water pills") increase urine output. If you take a single dose of diuretic each day, take it in the morning. If you take two doses of a diuretic each day, take the second dose in the late afternoon so you can sleep through the night.
• Diuretics can also cause dehydration (excessive loss of water). Signs of dehydration are dizziness, extreme thirst, dry mouth, less urine output, dark-colored urine, or constipation. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor. Don't just assume that you need more fluids.