Are you taking your blood pressure medication as your doctor prescribed? This has been a topic that I have been interested in since my PhD dissertation. During this work, I learned that forgetting to take blood pressure medication is a common issue with compliance or adherence, if you will. If you have missed a dose from time to time because you forgot to take your medication, you are still considered compliant with your medication.
Can you skip your blood pressure medication?
Medication compliance is defined as taking blood pressure medication at no less than 80% to 90 % of the time. Does this mean you can skip your medication 20 % of the time and maintain blood pressure control? Well, according to research, this is the case. However, I would not recommend doing skipping your blood pressure medication. You should always take your blood pressure medication routinely as prescribed. That said, there are times when you need to hold your blood pressure medication and consult your health care provider for guidance.
There is a book called “Hypertension and You: Old Drugs, New Drugs, and the Right Drugs for Your High Blood Pressure”. The author gives comprehensive information on antihypertensive medication and he explains when to hold your medication and consult your provider. Sometimes patients become over medicated when they follow healthy life style modifications. This is another reason why you need a reliable blood pressure monitor at home to monitor and log your blood pressure.
Complications
Some people take all of their medication as prescribed, but others take half, or none of their medication. When people with hypertension skip their blood pressure medication, it drives up emergency room visits, hospital admission, and readmission. Poor medication adherence
Medication adherence may vary over time due to the person’s belief about the effectiveness of the medication. Side effects also increases poor medication adherence. Forgetting to take antihypertension medication is one of the most common reasons for poor medication compliance. Pillboxes and setting alarms on your smart cell phone
