Most of us already live very chaotic lives. We are always on the run and the last thing on our mind may be to take medication. People take meds for numerous reasons which can include an illness or even old age as your body starts to naturally degenerate. Whatever the reason you have been prescribed medication, it can be difficult to remember to take it. As you may know, or your doctor or pharmacist may advise you, you will need to take the medication at specific times for them to work. You may have so much going on that committing to this one thing may be the last thing on your mind. However, you should make it a priority.
Evidently, make sure to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist your prescription so that you know exactly how to complete the course of medication. This article will provide you with six tips to help you remember to take your meds. Utilizing some of these tips will help you stay on track so that the medication works and your health improves.
However, I do want to state that I believe there are natural remedies that you should try to turn to before taking prescriptions as it’s best to solve the underlying problem than just masking it with a band-aid! Some of these also require consistency though, so use these tips to help you stay on top of it!
1) Use Electronic Reminders
Nowadays, there is so much technology around us, it is only smart that we put it to good use. Most people use the alarms within their smartphones to wake up in the morning, but they can also be used for a variety of things. If you find yourself forgetting to tackle your medication, it may be a good idea to set a reminder on your phone. This way, your phone will ring whenever it is time to take your meds and you will not miss it. You can either use the alarm option in your phone or you can download an app that will specifically help you with meds. Here you can write notes about your medication and it will notify you when it is time. The latter is a good option for those taking different types of medication on a daily basis as it will help you keep track of everything you need to take,
2) Write on a Calendar
If you are old school and do not have access to technology or simply do not want to rely on a device to provide you with reminders, then writing things down may be a better solution than the one discussed above. You can get a calendar so that you have the dates on it and write down the medication that you need to take, what day, and what times. Tick off every time you comply with it so that you do not end up taking your medication twice. This calendar should be visible in a place where you will see it every day, such as the kitchen, for example. If the pills you need to take are next to the calendar, even better.
3) Go to a Compounding Pharmacy
A standard pharmacy is there to provide you with the medication that you are prescribed by the doctor. The pharmacist simply has to search for the appropriate medication within the shelves and give it to you. However, there are compounding pharmacies, whose role is to provide patients with medicine tailored to their needs. They will consider your individual needs before mixing the appropriate ingredients for you to take. There are many benefits of compounding medicine, with the main one being that you are solely ingesting what you need. Using this type of medicine will allow you to have a better understanding of what you are taking and make you more likely to remember to take your medicine.
4) Link Your Medication with a Daily Activity
Incorporating your medicine into your routine is a good way to remember to take it. People are very unlikely to forget the daily things they do as part of their routine… You would not forget to brush your teeth or take a shower, or go to work, would you? And these behaviors happen without the need for reminders. You can implement this strategy with your medication. For example, take it first thing in the morning with breakfast or with every meal. This will make it easier for you to keep up with the course of medicine as prescribed.
5) Store the Pills Visibly
You are more likely to forget something that you do not see. If you store the medicine away at the back of a cabinet, chances are you will not remember to take them. Making them visible is a smart move. You can try leaving them on the counter or on a table next to your water so that you take them there and then. Alternatively, if you do not want your medicine to be exposed or if you leave with children and need to keep this away, lock them in a safe box and maintain it somewhere practical and easily accessible.
5) Ask Your Friends and Family for Help
Most doctors will try to keep your medication as simple as possible. As you may know, every medication has side effects, which is why it is not ideal to take it for long. Medical professionals should take this into consideration by only prescribing you what you actually need. However, in certain cases, patients require a number of different medications whenever they display a variety of health conditions – this is particularly prominent for elderly individuals. If this is the case for you, asking your friends and family for support may be the best course of action. Even if you live alone, you can ask someone to text you or call you to remind you to take the medication. This may seem like a lot of work for them and you may not want to depend on anyone, but surely your loved ones will not mind helping ensure you are looking after your health. You may also get a carer if you would rather have a professional look after you as they will make sure that you comply with your medication and they can even communicate with your doctors if there are any issues with your health.
It is understandable that you may forget to take your medication every now and then. However, taking it as prescribed is essential, otherwise, the meds may not work as they are meant to. Make sure to follow some of the tips discussed on this page as they will help you remember to take your meds for the sake of your health.
