Heart Failure Health Center

Take Medicines for Heart Failure as Directed

When you have heart failure, it is very important that you take your medicines exactly as recommended by your doctor. If you do not, your heart failure may get worse or sudden heart failure may develop, and you may need to be hospitalized.

Develop a system to keep track of when and how you take your medicines.

• Ask your doctor whether you can simplify your pill schedule. This may make it much easier for you to remember to take your medicines as directed. You may be able to substitute longer-acting medicines for shorter-acting ones. Longer-acting, once-a-day drugs are easier for people to remember to take.
• Post your medicine schedule in a prominent place near your medicine cabinet. Take it along when you travel. Record your medicine schedule in a daily planner that has spaces for hourly entries(What is a PDF document?).
• Use a pillbox that holds a week's worth of pills. This may be especially helpful if you are taking pills every other day.
• Post reminders near clocks or on the bathroom mirror to keep yourself on schedule.

Ask your doctor for a clear explanation of the actions and purpose of each medicine prescribed. If you understand what you are taking and how it is helping you, it may be easier to stick to your schedule.

If your medicines are expensive, the following may help you keep costs down.

• Ask your doctor whether less expensive, equally effective generic brands would be appropriate for you.
• Compare prices between several pharmacies.
• Consider mail-order pharmacies.