Use nonprescription medicines with care if you have heart failure

Many nonprescription medicines can aggravate symptoms of heart failure or react with prescribed medicines.

Recent studies indicate that people with heart failure should avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin), and naproxen sodium (Aleve). In a large study, the use of NSAIDs substantially increased the risk of heart failure getting worse.¹

Follow the doctor's instructions on which medicines to avoid. These may also include:

• Nonprescription medicines that are high in sodium, such as Alka-Seltzer.
• Some antibiotics, antacids, and stool softeners that react or interfere with your body's ability to use digoxin.
• Aspirin. Your doctor may advise you to take a low-dose aspirin every day to prevent a stroke or heart attack. But higher doses of aspirin may affect kidney function and make your heart failure worse. For more information, talk with your doctor.
• Decongestants, which can raise blood pressure.

Ask your pharmacist whether your nonprescription drugs may react with your prescription drugs.

Citations

1. Feenstra J, et al. (2002). Association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with first occurrence of heart failure and with relapsing heart failure: The Rotterdam study. Archives of Internal Medicine, 162(3): 265–270.