Establishing a blood pressure goal is very important and is something you should determine with your doctor. To reach and maintain your goal, you should stay on your medication as long as your doctor recommends.

If you are worried about determining a routine for taking your blood pressure medication, or if you forget to take it, you are not alone. It's common to forget to take your medication from time to time, but it is certainly not a reason to quit taking it altogether. In fact, by looking at the reasons why you forgot to take your medication, you can think of new ways to remember to take it in the future.

Here are some common reasons why you may forget to take your medication, and tips to help you remember:

"I'm on so many other medications that I sometimes forget to take my blood pressure medication."

The easiest way to keep track of your medications is to use a pillbox that has compartments for each day of the week. According to your doctor's instructions, place each dosage of your medication in the necessary compartments and carry your pillbox with you wherever you go. This will make it easier to organize the different medications you are taking, and will remind you to take them at the correct times.

"If my doctor makes changes to my blood pressure medication, I have trouble remembering how to take it properly."

It can be difficult to remember the new instructions your doctor has given you once you have left the office. Ask your doctor to write down any changes he or she has made on a piece of paper. If you are still uncertain about when or how much medication to take, be sure to call your doctor.

"I work in shifts and find it hard to take my blood pressure medication at the correct times."

An easy way to remember to take your medication is to purchase a watch with an alarm. Set the alarm to go off whenever it's time to take your medication. Once you have taken your medication, reset the alarm for the next time your medication is due.

"I feel fine, so why should I take my blood pressure medication?"

Remember: taking medication to lower your blood pressure is not like taking medication for a headache. You feel the headache, then take a pain reliever and feel the headache go away. You can't feel your high blood pressure because it has no symptoms,¹ but you take your medication to lower it and prevent serious health conditions. Even though you can't feel the medication working, know that it is lowering your blood pressure. That's why it is so important to find a way to remember to take it every day.

"I've forgotten to take my blood pressure medication so many times that I'm ready to give up."

If you forget to take your medication to lower your blood pressure, there is no need to feel guilty or give up. It could happen to anyone. For remembering your medication, you may want to try making a schedule for yourself on a calendar. Remember, taking your blood pressure medication, as well as exercising, quitting smoking and, making changes to your diet, is doing something healthy for your body. You can do it!

If you have additional questions for your doctor write them down and make sure you ask them at your next checkup.

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¹ National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH. Revised April 2006