MEDICATIONS

Most children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy will take medication to treat their symptoms and improve the functioning of their heart. The prescribed medication will vary from child to child due to a variety of factors. It is common for children with cardiomyopathy to take several types of medications at different intervals during the day.

It is important to have a clear understanding of what each prescribed drug does. It may be helpful to review the following questions with your child’s physician:

• What medication does my child need to take?
• How does the medication help his/her heart?
• How and when should I give the medicine to my child?
• What should I do if my child vomits after a dose or misses a dose?
• What precautions do I need to know related to compatibility with other drugs and activity restrictions?
• What are common side effects?

More information about different medications used to treat cardiomyopathy can be found on our Medication page.

Intake Schedule

Doctors recommend working out a medication schedule that revolves around your child's sleep and mealtimes. Children with feeding tubes have more flexibility because medication can be directly inserted into the tube at any time.

Even though heart medications are not known to interfere with meals or feeding, it is suggested that medication be given one hour before meals. It is not recommended to mix medications into food because a child may not finish their meal or they may develop an aversion to the food and then not finish their meal. If your child vomits after taking his/her medication, do not give the medication again until the next scheduled dose unless otherwise instructed by a physician.

To keep track of your child’s schedule, it is helpful to have a chart indicating dosages and times on an erasable magnetic board or laminated paper to allow you or another caregiver to check off each time a dose is given to your child.

If your child is in daycare or school, your child’s medication schedule should be communicated to the daycare supervisor or school nurse. CCF's Cardiomyopathy School Resource Kit includes a guidebook that explains how to develop a health plan and work with your child’s school.

Side Effects

When your child receives a new medication or dosage, you should carefully monitor your child for possible side effects. If your child becomes ill, feeds poorly, or vomits more than two to three times per day, it may mean that your child's medication needs to be adjusted.

Low blood pressure and low heart rate are other indications that the dosage needs to be checked. Providing your observations and information about your child's heart rate to his/her cardiologist can help determine the most effective medication and dosage for your child. A list of common side effects by medication is detailed on our Medication Chart.