Health library

Having trouble remembering your heart meds?

Heart medicines—like cholesterol-lowering statins and blood pressure drugs—work best when you remember to take them like clockwork. If you're having trouble keeping track, try one or more of these tips.

6 ways to remember your heart medicines

Take them at the same time each day.
Make them part of a daily routine, like brushing your teeth.
Use a pill organizer with sections for days of the week and times of day.
Use a medicine calendar and check off each dose.
Use a pill bottle cap with a built-in timer.
Set an alarm on your smartphone or watch.

Sources: American Heart Association; U.S. Food and Drug Administration

If you've already had a heart attack, read about steps you can take to prevent a second one.

Reviewed 4/28/2023

Sources

American Heart Association. "Cholesterol Medications." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/cholesterol-medications.
American Heart Association. "Types of Heart Medication." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack/cardiac-medications.
Food and Drug Administration. "Why You Need to Take Your Medications as Prescribed or Instructed." https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/why-you-need-take-your-medications-prescribed-or-instructed.
NCQA. "Statin Therapy for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (SPC/SPD)." https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/statin-therapy-for-patients-with-cardiovascular-disease-and-diabetes/.