Why should you take a blood pressure pill every day?

Question

I found out that my dad has not been doing this. He said he takes it when his pressure is high. I want to tell him why it's important that he takes his pill every day.Can you help me to explain?

Thank you. I told him what was said here. He understands and said OK. I think he gets it now. In a few days I'll let you know if he really got it.Thank you again.

Answer 1

Most blood pressure meds don't work immediately. Some create gradual changes to the body and help the body's system to control blood pressure. If you take blood pressure meds only when you have high blood pressure: First, the damage already started, that's why is so important to keep it under control, those sudden changes can damage even your eyes (most people don't know you can end up blind because of high blood pressure); Second, if you don't keep a steady therapy, everytime you stop the med you can have rebound blood pressure (it can get even higher); Third, if you don't take it as directed, you don't give time to your body to tolerate side effects (some side effects go away after a first week or so). Finally, if you don't take it everyday, there's no way the doctor can see if the med is working or not, so the therapy can't be adjusted properly. Blood pressure pills are not like a headache med, that you take and the problem is "solved", these meds are necessary to create long term effects and keep blood pressure under control at all times. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Blood pressure medication is what we in the pharmaceutical industry call a maintenance medication. This means it is a medication that must be taken on a regular, daily basis. Blood pressure isn't like a runny nose, where you can wait till your nose is running to take a pill. Instead, blood pressure medication is taken on a daily basis for two reasons: A. In the hopes that the long term therapy of the drug, along with diet and exercise, will act to lower the blood pressure gradually over time, and B. As a preventive major. If your dad waits until his blood pressure is high and THEN takes his medicine, it could already be too late, leading to a heart attack or other health issue. Please advise him that his life could depend on taking his medication daily.

Answer 3

Your BP is fine and does not require any medication. If your BP goes over 140/90 that is too high and requires medication. Low BP is a BP below 90/60. A BP of 101/65 is much better than 120/80 that is deemed to normal, OK and acceptable.

Answer 4

Lol your Dad is doing it all wrong,in order for the BP pillls to do their job they must be taken everyday.
I know i take mine evey day and i allso rember when i first began to take this medication it took my BP about three days
to come down to a safe level.