How long do I need to take heart medication?

How long do I have to take heart medication?

“How long do I have to keep taking the medication?” is a frequently asked question from patients and their relatives.

Imagine a normal person who does not regularly take medication but suddenly has to take several pills every day. Besides being unaccustomed, some may worry and ask, “What will happen to my liver and kidneys if I take medicine for a long time?” Most heart disease patients want to try stopping their medication because taking it for a long time can be tiring and worrying about side effects. However, if they stop, they fear the disease might relapse, causing hesitation.

Being healthy is a great blessing, but if illness occurs, we must take care of our bodies. Think of having a disease that has treatment as a kind of blessing as well. Moreover, the good fortune of heart disease patients is that there are many medications and innovative alternatives available, ranking among the top diseases for which the medical field has developed treatments. Continuous research and drug development have provided us with information on effectiveness, safety, and precautions, allowing us to select the most suitable medication for each patient and minimize side effects.

 

“I feel better now, can I stop the medication?” For heart disease, just by the name, it’s not something as simple as a cold, cough, or sneeze. Heart disease is a chronic condition that requires ongoing care. The medications prescribed by doctors often include several types for heart disease and other coexisting conditions, such as antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, vasodilators, anti-arrhythmics, blood pressure reducers, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and diabetes medications. To determine whether these medications are effective, doctors primarily assess the patient’s symptoms along with physical examinations. Patients will have appointments at the hospital for physical exams, blood pressure measurement, blood tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, treadmill tests, and other assessments periodically to evaluate their condition.

 

Stopping medication on your own at first usually does not show clear symptoms, especially if the disease is not severe. However, if left untreated for a long time, dangerous complications can occur, making treatment more complicated. If you experience any abnormalities after taking medication or want to try stopping it, please openly discuss this with your doctor first. After consultation, there may be good options suitable for you. When patients and their families have better knowledge and understanding of the disease and treatment, their worries ease, which leads to better treatment outcomes.

 

Finally, I want you to see heart medication as a kind of longevity medicine because it helps you live longer, allowing you to stay with your loved ones longer and do the activities you want. Taking medication correctly and consistently is as important as coming to the hospital for scheduled check-ups. I hope heart disease patients can ease their worries, appreciate the good things, and the encouragement around them.