Tips and Techniques to Keep Track of Your Medicine
In theory, taking your meds should be a simple activity that’s not supposed to take up a lot of time and energy. In reality, however, this can be a complicated task, especially if you need to take more than two prescription drugs a day. The dose, intake timing, whether or not you should eat before taking the medicine -- these and many other elements play an important factor in ensuring the medicine’s effectivity.
It is then quite important that you not only keep track of your medicine, you also need to learn how and when you should take your medication, and what food or beverage to take when you consume them. Here are 7 other tips and techniques to keep track of your medicine:
1. Set an …show more content…
Yet keeping track of when to do it can be challenging. You have a better chance of remembering when to take the pills if you do it the same time each day. By turning it into a habit and incorporating that into your daily routine, taking your medicine will be harder to forget.
3. List down all the medicine you need to take.
Write a running list of all your prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements. Bring all of these with you to doctor's appointments and to the pharmacy. Ideally, you should be filling out all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that you have a pharmacist who is already familiar with your medication. This way, the pharmacist can advise you on possible side effects and incompatible drug combinations.
4. Read instructions carefully.
Your medicine comes with specific instructions on the label. Make sure to follow these in order to avoid side effects or medical complications. By taking the medicine in the exact way it is prescribed, you optimize the health benefits it could provide. The reverse of this is your health can suffer if you take the medication incorrectly. Clarify with your doctor or pharmacist any instruction on the label you are unsure of, and don't hesitate to ask for guidelines if the instruction seems …show more content…
These tools have several compartments for your pills and using them is a good way of seeing if you missed any medication. Most pillboxes have room for a week's worth of medicine. Other pillboxes have multiple compartments and can accommodate pills that are meant to be taken at different hours of the day.
6. Make a medication calendar.
Marking the calendar when you need to take your medicine is also a good way for you to keep track of your medications. By listing the name of the drug and the time you need to take it, you have a visual reminder of your schedule.
7. Have a schedule with your pharmacist.
Also, keep track of your prescription refill dates. Aside from daily reminders to take your medication, you will also need to remember when you should be refilling your prescription. If you’re taking maintenance drugs, you cannot afford to run out on them. Some prescriptions are good for a period of months, while others are only good for a shorter time, such as pain medication. Once your doctor prescribes the medicine, consult your pharmacist and plan a refilling schedule to avoid running out. Make sure to also discard any expired
In theory, taking your meds should be a simple activity that’s not supposed to take up a lot of time and energy. In reality, however, this can be a complicated task, especially if you need to take more than two prescription drugs a day. The dose, intake timing, whether or not you should eat before taking the medicine -- these and many other elements play an important factor in ensuring the medicine’s effectivity.
It is then quite important that you not only keep track of your medicine, you also need to learn how and when you should take your medication, and what food or beverage to take when you consume them. Here are 7 other tips and techniques to keep track of your medicine:
1. Set an …show more content…
Yet keeping track of when to do it can be challenging. You have a better chance of remembering when to take the pills if you do it the same time each day. By turning it into a habit and incorporating that into your daily routine, taking your medicine will be harder to forget.
3. List down all the medicine you need to take.
Write a running list of all your prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements. Bring all of these with you to doctor's appointments and to the pharmacy. Ideally, you should be filling out all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that you have a pharmacist who is already familiar with your medication. This way, the pharmacist can advise you on possible side effects and incompatible drug combinations.
4. Read instructions carefully.
Your medicine comes with specific instructions on the label. Make sure to follow these in order to avoid side effects or medical complications. By taking the medicine in the exact way it is prescribed, you optimize the health benefits it could provide. The reverse of this is your health can suffer if you take the medication incorrectly. Clarify with your doctor or pharmacist any instruction on the label you are unsure of, and don't hesitate to ask for guidelines if the instruction seems …show more content…
These tools have several compartments for your pills and using them is a good way of seeing if you missed any medication. Most pillboxes have room for a week's worth of medicine. Other pillboxes have multiple compartments and can accommodate pills that are meant to be taken at different hours of the day.
6. Make a medication calendar.
Marking the calendar when you need to take your medicine is also a good way for you to keep track of your medications. By listing the name of the drug and the time you need to take it, you have a visual reminder of your schedule.
7. Have a schedule with your pharmacist.
Also, keep track of your prescription refill dates. Aside from daily reminders to take your medication, you will also need to remember when you should be refilling your prescription. If you’re taking maintenance drugs, you cannot afford to run out on them. Some prescriptions are good for a period of months, while others are only good for a shorter time, such as pain medication. Once your doctor prescribes the medicine, consult your pharmacist and plan a refilling schedule to avoid running out. Make sure to also discard any expired