Are you taking medicines to help your heart



Are you taking medicines to help your heart?

Your heart acts as the pump to circulate the blood in your body, so it is very important to maintain heart health. The best way to help the heart in everyday life is to have a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

As we age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Diabetes are just some of the problems that can affect cardiovascular function and medicine is used to maintain your cardiovascular health.

The table below has just some examples of adverse effects of common medicines.

Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse is always available for to answer your questions.

|Medicines to treat |Common adverse effects |What to do |

|Blood Pressure |When taken with diabetes medicine can further reduce blood |Monitor BGL |

|The most common class of drugs is |glucose levels (BGL) | |

|called “ACE Inhibitor” | | |

|enalapril, | | |

|fosinopril, | | |

|lisinipril, | | |

|ramipril | | |

| |When taken with non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) |Take these pain relievers only on the advice of|

| |drugs, can affect your kidney function and increase your |your doctor and have your blood pressure |

| |blood pressure |checked regularly |

| |When taken with non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS)* |Take these pain relievers only on the advice of|

| |drugs and fluid tablets can reduce your kidney function |your doctor and monitor kidney function |

| |When taken with non prescription medicines that contain salt,|Always read the label of non prescription |

| |can increase blood pressure |medicine and avoid salt if possible |

| |When taken with potassium supplements can cause increased |Avoid these supplements, check with your doctor|

| |potassium levels | |

| |Can cause a dry cough |Report any cough to doctor |

|Beta blockers |When taken with other medicines that reduce blood pressure, |Take care when standing up and report dizziness|

|(atenolol, carvedilol |can cause dizziness |to your doctor |

|metoprolol, sotolol) | | |

| |Can cause asthma-like symptoms or cold hands and feet |Report any symptoms to your doctor |

|Arrhythmia, |Can affect thyroid function, vision and causes |Discuss any symptoms with your doctor and |

|the most common drug is amiodarone|photosensitivity |always wear sunscreen |

| |Can increase levels of Lanoxin when taken together |Discuss any nausea or loss of appetite with |

| | |your doctor |

|Cholesterol, |If liver function is reduced, there is more risk of adverse | |

|common drugs are |effects | |

|Lipex, Lipitor, | | |

|Pravastatin and Zocor | |Discuss any muscle pain with your doctor |

| |When taken with antidepressant medication can increase risk | |

| |of adverse effects | |

| |When taken with grapefruit can have increased blood levels | |

| |and more risk of adverse effects | |

|Atrial Fibrillation, |There are many drugs, foods, such as green leafy vegetables |Regularly monitor your INR, notify your doctor |

|the most common drug is warfarin |and vitamins such as ginkgo, fish oil that interact with |if bruising or bleeding occurs |

| |warfarin so it is important to continually monitor your INR | |

|Stoke prevention, the most common |When taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or|Notify your doctor if bruising or bleeding |

|drug is low dose aspirin |warfarin, there is an increased risk of bruising, bleeding |occurs |

*If you have been diagnosed with Heart Failure do not take NSAIDS

If you have concerns about your medicines, ask your doctor for a

Home Medicines Review and your pharmacist can visit you at home.

For more information on medicines: .au .au

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