Compliance

It is important to be compliant with taking your medication as it will help you manage your condition better. I remember what started out as a one and half page worth of medication eventually shortened to these. Taking note that when we get stronger (yes it may seem impossible at first, it is possible to get more manageable and stronger), some of your medication maybe reduced or taken off the list entirely.

Wafarin I introduced earlier is to help me specifically with blood thinning. I have to take two different pills as a measured means to control my blood thickness and flow. This may change over time, and each time it make take days to find the right level in order to remain taking at the same range of International Normalized Ratio or INR of 2.0-3.0. Your doctors or nurses will demand a blood test every visit to ensure that this is in sync with the effectiveness of medication dosage level you take.

Spirolon is a brand of Spironolactone which is used in the treatment of fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. This medication is also used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood). Usually hypokalemia is due to excessive water loss either through medication or kidney not able to retain sufficient liquids.

Potassium chloride is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia). Potassium levels can be low as a result of a disease or from taking certain medicines, or after a prolonged illness with diarrhea or vomiting.

Part of the problem of excessive fluid losses could result in cramping ever so often in the limbs because of loss of minerals through urinating frequently. Both Potassium Chloride and Spironolactone supposedly helps you counter those losses.

Rasitol

​​is a brand of Furosemide is used for treating fluid build-up and swelling caused by congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, etc.With heart failure, it actually impacts your internal system ... entirely. Your kidney also tends to be impacted, which may cause you swelling. If you noticed that you appear puffy and cold, and when you press against on your skin it feels spongy, chances are you are retaining water. Furosemide might make you displace water through frequent urinating, the dosage do eventually get reduced.

Atorvastatin

reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL). Basically think of it as a cholestrol fighter (not defender).

Cardarone

here refers to a brand of Amiodaronze, there are other brand so don't be too concern about the naming. It is an antiarrhythmic medication that affects the rhythm of heartbeats. Amiodarone is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with life-threatening heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart)." - eMedicineHealth​​

Hydralazine (Apresoline)

is a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant used to treat hypertension by acting as a vasodilatorprimarily in arteries and arterioles. By relaxing vascular smooth muscle, vasodilators act to decrease peripheral resistance, thereby lowering blood pressure and decreasing afterload.

This is not to be confused with Hydrazine Sulfate which is used to treat cancer.

Due to the water losses from medication, plus being on water restriction (1L to 1.5L - depending on your physician's recommendation), you might be constipated. If you find it so, do not attempt to self-medicate with over the counter medication.

Doctors usually would recommend a few things to help you, in my case they given me Senokot and Lactulose syrup.

Senokot is to help with motion passing while Lactulose syrup (I like to call it Loose Syrup) helps to soften the stool. Here are some of the tools that would help you with your discipline in medication.

Tools I Found Useful To Have ... 1) A water bottle with a measuring scale on the side, so that you know how much water you intake per day. I use a 400ml bottle, so I can refill and know my morning, afternoon, and evening water intake. 2) A pill cutter to help me with pills requiring less than 1/2 a size dosage.

3) Different pill boxes to accomodate day/night medication.

If you are wondering where to get the tools, you can usually get them at a pharmacy. Hope this helps - stay compliant - eat smart - exercise - stay happy and all will be better eventually.

s