Use non-prescription medicines with care if you have heart failure
Many non-prescription medicines can aggravate symptoms of heart failure or react with prescribed medicines.
Recent studies indicate that people with heart failure should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin). In a large study, the use of NSAIDs substantially increased the risk of heart failure getting worse.1
Follow the doctor's instructions on which medicines to avoid. These may also include:
- Non-prescription medicines that are high in sodium, such as Alka-Seltzer.
- Some antibiotics, antacids, and stool softeners that react or interfere with your body's ability to use digoxin.
- ASA. Your doctor may advise you to take a low-dose ASA (for example, Aspirin) every day to prevent a stroke or heart attack. But higher doses of ASA may affect kidney function and make your heart failure worse. For more information, talk with your doctor.
- Decongestants, which can raise blood pressure.
Ask your pharmacist whether your non-prescription drugs may react with your prescription drugs.
| Author: | Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 23, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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