Patient-doctor cooperation eases blood-pressure treatment

Of the more than 32 million adults in America taking medication for high blood pressure, only half successfully keep up with the sometimes complex regimens. Dr. Joseph Ravenell, an internist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has some tips for keeping hypertension regimes manageable and more cost-effective.

“Never hesitate to ask your doctor,” he says. “If cost or side effects is the reason for not taking your medications, let your doctor know. There are more than 100 medications to treat hypertension. By working together, you and your doctor can find something that is both tolerable and affordable.”

Other tips from Dr. Ravenell include:

• Take medication at the same time each day;
• Keep medications visible, on the kitchen table or on the nightstand next to the bed. Hiding them away in the medicine cabinet makes them easy to forget;
• Use a daily pill organizer. These small plastic organizers are provided by many pharmacies for free;
• Ask your doctor if your pill count can be reduced by combining medicines. There are many single pills that combine two different antihypertensive medicines;
• Enlist the support of your family: tell your spouse or significant other your medication schedule so he/she can help you remember; and
• Add your medication schedule to your PDA calendar or set an alarm for when your medication is due to be taken.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/primarycare to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in primary care.

Media Contact: Katherine Morales

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