What You Should Know About High Blood Pressure and Medications

Updated:Dec 15,2016

A Prescription for Change: Follow your physician's orders

Is medication a part of your high blood pressure (HBP) treatment?
When blood pressure is high, high blood pressure medication may be an important part of your treatment. Your healthcare provider will also likely recommend lifestyle changes along with your medication. You may even need more than one type of prescription medication to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

General guidelines for taking high blood pressure medications
Although taking medication for your high blood pressure may require some adjustments, your doctor has your best interest in mind.

  • Follow these recommendations carefully, even if it means taking medication every day for the rest of your life.
  • Partnering with your healthcare provider is the best way to reach your treatment goals and enjoy the benefits of better health.
  • Naturopathic approaches are not considered a substitute for medications that have been carefully studied and monitored for prescription use. Natural treatments may also not work as advertised and/or interfere with other medications.
  • Be aware of how certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like decongestants, may react with your medications or affect your blood pressure.

For your information
Our medication and high blood pressure pages have been organized under the following topics:

High blood pressure is a lifelong condition
How long will you have to take your medication? Perhaps for the rest of your life. Managing blood pressure is a lifelong commitment. Do your part starting today for yourself and for those you love. Listen to your doctor, read the sound medical information on this site and act on the information to live a heart-healthy life.


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This content was last reviewed October 2016.

High Blood Pressure

Heart Insight Supplement:
Know Your Medicines

Keeping track of your medicines can be overwhelming. Learn what you can do to take all your medicines safely and effectively in this free supplement from Heart Insight magazine. View and share via your preferred platform:  

Digi-Edition | iOS | Android | Kindle Fire | PDF