4 Tips to Remember To Take Your Medications

Tip One: Take Medications Around Mealtimes

A good way to remember medications is to always take them either before or after a meal, depending on your medication.

Blood Pressure Medications:
• Diuretics are often taken several times a day, usually after breakfast, but not after 6 p.m.
• Beta blockers, such as Toprol, are recommended at night right after a meal.
• Alpha-beta blockers, like Coreg, are best taken once or twice daily with food.
• Cardura, an alpha blocker, can cause lightheadedness or dizziness, so is best taken before bed.

Statins
The general recommendation is to take statins in the evening with a meal or before bed for effectiveness while you sleep, when the liver produces a lot of the body’s cholesterol. Mevacor, however, is recommended with food, and Lipitor users often take it in the morning because of its longer half life, or time it takes to be eliminated from the body.

Read up on statins.

Take medications with a big glass of water to avoid food interactions, such as with grapefruit juice. Other foods or beverages to steer clear of when taking medicines include caffeine, dairy, fruit juices, and alcohol. These can interfere with absorption or increase side effects.

The best advice: Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about when to take your medications and what foods or drinks to avoid.