So, How Many Pills Do YOU Take?

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Monday, February 02, 2009
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Talk about getting old! Each and every day I take 14 different drugs and supplements for a total of 25 pills to fight my heart disease. Anybody else who wants bragging rights feel free to comment and claim your throne as the king of pill takers. If nothing else it will make the rest of us feel better...

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Pills
GM Clayton
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 07:40 AM

Never have taken any pills. Am 80 and don't intend to take any. I am fortunate as I chose the right parents and have never ever smoked.

re: Pills
HeartHawk
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 04:03 PM

GM:

Congratulations on the great genetics and smart health choices. Some of us are not so lucky! Enjoy one of life's greatest benefits because when you have your health you have everything,

Regards,

HeartHawk

re: re: Pills
Geoff Clayton
Friday, February 06, 2009 at 02:57 AM

Absolutely.

Take a look at www.takeheart.co.uk

Good fortune to you and yours

Regards

Geoff Clayton

How many drugs do you take?
Mountain
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 09:41 AM

My husband takes 31 different pills, has 3 inhalers, and 2 insulins. He has COPD, congestiver heart failure, and diabetes. He had a triple by-pass at in 2002 at the age of 45.

re: How many drugs do you take?
HeartHawk
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 04:10 PM

Hope your husband's condition improves. It sounds like he has gone through quite a number of challenges. When genetics or lifestyle gives you a sobering wake-up call it is time for action especially on controlable things like lifestyle, diet, exercise, etc. The pills serve as a bridge or lifeline to get you through another day and to make-up for genetic shortcomings. Use the extra time they buy to live not just longer but healthier!

Regards,

HeartHawk

Daily pill regiment
tx2sum
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 10:50 AM

I take 21 a day. Only one of them is a prescription medicine, Benicar HCT 40 for blood pressure. Other than that I take Calcium/magnesium/vitamin D, Fish oil with added vitamin D, 2,000 mg vitamin C, an Antioxidant and mineral product, a glucosamine product for my knees and ankles. I've also cut down on processed foods and sugars. Results? My total cholesterol has gone from 240 to 185. My weight has gone from 210 to 182, and my ankles and knees don't hurt.

re: Daily pill regiment
HeartHawk
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 04:16 PM

tx2sum:

That is great news. You have got the formula down pat. As we age we need more essential nutrients. If we neglect ourselves then something breaks down sooner or later and you have to use drugs as a crutch to keep going. Yes, in some instances drugs and surgery ARE the only answer. For example, if you don't put oil in your car you may need major surgery on the engine because no amount or combination of engine additives will fix the problem. But like that car we can do preventive maintenance to avoid many of the major problems in the first place!

Regards,

HeartHawk

Pills
dawn74
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 12:02 PM

I take a few more than you but I dont have the time to get the box out and name them all. Most are supplements. I take a few of what you do. I take a statin, coQ10, Omeprazol (Prilosec) Prozac, Triamterine HCZ, Alleve, Tylenol for bursitus. I cant take vitamin c as I am allergic to ascorbic acid. I divide my pills up into three meals and take them with meals. I have quite a few more but it is too time consuming to write them all down. After reading your comments and revelations, I am going to up my vitamin D and COQ10. I dont have any real problems except pain in hips, legs and back so I take all this stuff to keep from getting anything serious.

re: Pills
HeartHawk
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 04:20 PM

Dawn:

Glad I could be of assistance. Vitamin D is so important and has recently been elevated to as high a status as supplements like fish oil. Keep it up. You will be glad you did!

Looking out for your heart heath,

HeartHawk

I went from an occasional pill to having 22+ pills/day
fpreston
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 04:02 PM

After flu shot led to severe flu, led to leg swelling, led to atrial-fibrilation, led to congestive heart failure, I am forced to take a lot of pills, more than 22.

Prescribed (currently 8+ pills/day):

Digoxin 0.125 1X daily (strengthens heart)

Lisinopril 5 mg 1X daily

Simvastatin 40 mg 1X daily (later stopped due to muscular problems)

Warfarin 5 mg 1-1.5X daily (thins blood to reduce clots/strokes/etc)

Furosemide 20 mg 3X daily (diuretic; reduces blood pressure)

Carvedilol 12.5 mg 2X daily

Doctor ordered (3 pills/day):

Aspirin 81 mg 1X daily

Magnesium 400 mg 1X daily (I take 250 mg plus another 150 in a multi-vitamin)

CoQ10 100 mg 1X daily (rebuilds heart muscle)

Personal addition (11 pills/day):

CoQH 100 mg 1X daily (4 times the effective level of CoQ10) (rebuilds heart muscle)

Niacin -currently at 1600 mg in 5 pills per day and gradually increasing (more HDL; reduces artery blockage)

Multivitamin w/minerals 1X daily (general health)

B12 2000 mg 1X daily (improves mood, adds energy)

Fish Oil 1000 mg 2X daily (improves cholesterol: more HDL, less TG)

Hawthorn 510 mg 1X daily (strengthens heart; natural diuretic, etc)

I went from a heart EF of 17.3% (nearly dead) to currently 40% (in about 4 months)

re: I went from an occasional pill to having 22+ pills/day
HeartHawk
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 12:07 AM

Wow, that is absolutely fantastic progress to increase your EF to that amount!

HH