5 Ways to Manage Your Medication

When you have multiple medications to take, keeping them organized may be difficult.  Remembering names, why you need them, and how often you need to take them maybe a bit overwhelming.  Managing your medications effectively can help reduce the chance of overdose or missing a dose.  The key to managing medications is organization.  These tips will help ensure medications are taken in a timely and safe manner.

Use a Daily Pill Organizer

A pill organizer that has compartments for each day of the week will help with accuracy, especially if you take many types of medications during the day.

Create a Daily Dosing Schedule Chart

Use a spreadsheet or word processing program to create a medication dosage schedule chart. List all medications and the times they need to be taken with a space by each so you can check them off when each is taken.

Make List of all Your Meds

List all of the medications you take with name, dosage, frequency and side effects and whether the medication has been stopped. Also include any allergies that you may have to medications.  Make several copies and take one to your doctor and one to your pharmacist.  Update as necessary. Click here for a "Medication Log"

Check Prescription Labels Often

Check the containers in which your medications were dispensed. Look for expiration dates and refill information. Discard old medications properly and call for refills promptly before you run out so you won’t miss a dose.  If you need a refill on a medication that has no refills left, call you doctor’s office as soon as possible to allow the doctor to contact your pharmacist.

Use a Pill Reminder Gadget

For an auditory reminder, there are electronic pill reminders on the market that will alert you to take a medication.  You input the name of the medication and time to take it and an alarm will sound.