Tips to Organize Your Medications
Adhering to your treatment schedule may not be easy all the time. It may seem like a small issue but it can stretch your treatment period and affect your medical condition as well. So, if you keep forgetting to take the medicine dosage, then this article is for you. We've mentioned ways and tips to help you organize your medications and stay on top of your treatment schedule.
Here are some practical tips you can apply:
Put it all together
Pillboxes can help you keep your medicine schedule on track. The ones with bigger size come with sections for days of the week and times of the day. You can choose between a monthly pill organizer or weekly pill organizer. As the name suggests, a monthly pill organizer will help you track your prescription for a month and weekly pill organizer, for a week. This enables you to sort medicines according to your dosage. They are available in various sizes to hold different medicines. You can store most of the medications in compartments with other drugs for a short period. However, it is important to take advice from your doctor before storing them.
Storage tips:
- Gather all the medications and make a list.
- Fill the pillbox according to the list. Ensure that you have the same pills as per the assigned day.
- Refill it before completely empty.
To ensure that you are taking medications on time, keep a dosage schedule nearby with the medication. Setting reminders in your phone, or leaving post-it notes on the mirror can be helpful.
If you have to take medications frequently, an automatic pill dispenser may help. They also alert you whenever it is time to take the medication ensuring that you stay on track of your treatment plan.
Set reminders
One of the most common yet effective ways is setting alarms or asking friends for reminder calls. You can set it up reminders your watch, computer, phone, etc. to let you know when it's time. You can also ask your friend or a family member to remind you to take the medicine from your weekly or monthly pill organizer. Additionally, there are pharmacies that provide patients with a reminder when it's time to order a refill. Consider inquiring about any additional services that can help you to stay on track with your medication schedule.
Use Medication Apps
There are a variety of apps that can help you manage your medications. You can set up your medication schedule and get reminders on your phone to take your pills.
Make it a Routine
Setting your schedule with an activity you do regularly or at a certain time of the day can be helpful. As you add them in your daily routine, you may not forget or skip doses. You can also maintain a diary, journal, or a chart to track your medications and schedules.
Plan for traveling
If you are planning to travel, it is important to ensure that you take enough medicine to last while you are away. Planning this may come handy for several reasons. For example, picking up a last-minute refill can be hard. You may have to pay more for pills, especially if you are overseas. Hence, planning can help you save the extra cost. It is important to pack the pills in a carry bag to save you in delays, lost luggage, etc. cases. Make sure you keep the prescription for your medicine and/or a letter and a list of the pills from your doctor with you.
Buy them in Advance
You can check the pill bottle for the number of refills left. As soon as the label shows low refills, you can call your doctor for a new prescription to take to the pharmacy. This way, you will have the new prescription ready whenever needed. You can also ask your pharmacy if they can email or call before your refill is due. Asking your doctor to prescribe a 60 or 90 days supply of pills instead of a 30-day supply can also be helpful.
Customize the labels
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to keep track of multiple medicines especially the ones with similar packaging. In such cases, it is ideal to customize the pillbox with your own labels. If required, use larger fonts to rewrite the name of the pill and the instructions. You can also attach the new labels on their covers.
Lastly,
It is important that you keep medications away from children. You can put them in a safe or a locker in your room rather than in a shared bathroom.
Following your treatment plan along these tips will help you recover faster and stay the course towards a healthier body.