It can be a real challenge to keep track of the pills you take, especially if you take several a day. They all look the same, they are all small and indistinguishable from each other; this means that if you take one instead of another or can't remember if you took the right one, total chaos could break out. Thankfully, you ended up on this page, where you will find several ways to easily keep track of the medicines you take. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Know Your Medicines
Step 1. Make a list of all your medications
When we talk about medicines, we are not only referring to those that have been prescribed to you by your doctor, but also the over-the-counter ones you take on your own, such as the vitamins and supplements you usually use. Take a sheet and list all your medications, starting with the most important ones (i.e. prescription ones) and ending with the less important ones (vitamins and supplements). You should also write down the following information:
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Doses, side effects and other relevant information, such as the time of intake (on an empty stomach / while eating / after eating), everything you need to take them (such as water) and what each medicine is for (arthritis, etc..).
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Update the list every time you start taking a new drug.
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Step 2. Give the copy of the list to a family member
Prevention is always better than cure. If your family member has a list of the medications you take, this person can help you, even if you lose the list and all the medications (for example, the bag you put them in could get lost while you are traveling). Also, this person can give the list to a doctor if you are in an accident and the hospital knows what medications you need.
If you can, leave the list of medicines that have been prescribed to you in one pharmacy. In this way, to know what to take in an emergency (or if someone else needs this information), just call to access all your data
Step 3. Ask your doctors for specific information on each drug
Before taking one, talk to each specialist about the functions of the medicine. You should also discuss possible side effects, so as not to be alarmed if you start feeling weird or particularly sleepy out of the blue.
Try to write down all of this information, so you can review it later
Step 4. Write down in your diary or on your phone the day you will need to get the different medicines
It would be annoying to go on vacation and suddenly find that your medications will run out of you three days after you arrive. For this, it is important to keep track of what you take to avoid running out of it. Usually, medicines are sold in packs that should last for 30-60 days. Use a calendar to mark when you need to buy the supplies.
You should plan to purchase the prescribed medicines a couple of days before they run out, as there may be complications with your order
Step 5. Find out what would happen if you didn't take a dose
Obviously this changes from one pill to another, it depends on the function of the drug. In some cases, if you do not take a dose, you will need to take it the next day along with your regular dose, or over a certain period of time from when you should have taken it at a certain date (such as with the contraceptive pill). In other situations, just skip the missed dose and continue taking the medicine as you should the next day. Talk to your doctor about what to do with each medication you take.
Step 6. Keep track of drug expiration dates
When medicines run out, they may be harmful rather than helping you get better. For this, it is really important to check the expiration date on each package and make a note of it.
The useful life of some medicines ends after a certain period of time after opening. Medicines of this type include ointments, gels, drops and creams. You should use a calendar to note when you open them and when the deadline is due
Method 2 of 3: Use a Pill Box
Step 1. Buy a pillbox divided into seven slots, so you can refill it once a week
It is a very useful container that you can buy at a pharmacy or on the internet. The box should have seven separate compartments. Some pill boxes are even more organized and, inside each compartment, have smaller spaces, generally four: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night.
If you find it difficult to keep track of the medications you need to take or have physical disabilities, ask someone to buy the pill box and fill it for you
Step 2. Refill the pill box once a week
Set a specific day (often Sunday or Monday) to fill the compartments of the container. This means that you should split the pills so that each is in the right space. While doing this, make sure you are not distracted by anything, to avoid making mistakes.
For example, if you are supposed to take an arthritis pill every morning, you should put it in the Morning space, inside the compartment for each day of the week. That way, you don't have to look for it every time, it will already be there
Step 3. Store the pill box in a convenient place
You should put it in a place that is easy to access. If you're always on the go, keeping it in your purse or briefcase might be a good idea. If you have to take a pill with every meal, put it near the table so you can find it right away when you sit down to eat.
A great way to remember that you have already taken the necessary pills on a given day is to leave the lid of the corresponding compartment open
Step 4. Leave a pill in the original package
Most packs have a description of the pill on the outside or on the package insert, but in some cases you may find yourself needing to take two small, round blue pills (similar in appearance but different in function) that you have stored in the same compartment of the pillboxes; moreover, one should be taken during the day and the other in the evening. In order not to be mistaken, always keep at least one tablet in the original packaging, so you can take it out and compare it to the one you are not sure about.
Step 5. Make sure the pills are not kept in the original packaging
Some tablets actually need to be stored this way, so you won't be able to put them in the pill box. For example, if they are not exposed to the sun or humidity, they may not work if they do. Just read the package leaflet to find out if they should be left in that specific package.
If one of the pills is to be kept in the box, you should keep it in the same place as the pill box and imagine it is a motorcycle sidecar
Method 3 of 3: Prepare a Schedule
Step 1. Make a chart to keep track of the medications you take
Collect all the medications and take a sheet of paper. Draw a table that has five columns, while the number of rows depends on the amount of drugs you have (plus one). Beside each row, write the name of the medicine. As for the columns, write the following on each one:
- Column one: name of the drug and what it is used for. Example: Losartan 50 mg tablet, for hypertension.
- Column two: color and shape of the tablet. The most common shapes can be the following: rectangle with rounded corners, circle, diamond, oval, capsule formed by two shades of color, square, half circle, half diamond, etc.
- Column three: directions (how the medicine should be taken). It includes when it should be consumed in relation to meals (before, during or after), the number of pills, etc. Some medicines are taken with more water and you must remain seated for at least half an hour after taking them (also fill in this information).
- Column four: times and days. Note when you should take the medicine (morning, afternoon, evening, before eating, once a week, etc.).
- Column five: pharmacy. Where do you buy the drug (pharmacy near your home, online, other)?
Step 2. Write the information about each tablet and hang the sheet in a prominent place
Once you have made the table, write down the data that refer to each specific pill. You could write them in the order you should take them each day so you can keep track of them. When you have finished filling out the table, hang the paper in a place you will see often. Here are some ideas:
In the bathroom, in the kitchen, near the bed or the table in front of which you love to sit to read
Step 3. Use a pill calendar
If you don't feel like making a table, you can always buy a calendar. In the small box dedicated to each day, write the name of all the tablets you should take, adding the time of intake. Once you've done that, get rid of them.
Another useful thing to do is keep a pen next to the calendar so you don't have to look for it and accidentally forget to tick off the medication you just took
Step 4. Try tying a drug to a daily activity you perform
It is always easier to remember to take a medicine when you combine it with another commitment you have. For example, if you have to take a tablet in the morning, always take it after brushing your teeth. It might be hard to remember at first, but you will soon begin to naturally associate tooth brushing with taking a certain medicine.
If you have trouble remembering which activity you associated a pill with, write it down on a post-it and stick it in the area where you will dedicate yourself to it. For example, if you want to take the Lipitor after brushing your teeth, stick a post-it note on the bathroom mirror that says “Brush your teeth - Lipitor”. Soon you will no longer need them to help you remember
Step 5. Set reminders to remind you
If you are very busy and not at home when you should take the different pills, you could create reminders to remind yourself that you need to take these tablets throughout the day. You can use your watch or mobile phone for this. Set several audible reminders so your phone, watch or digital clock radio will alert you multiple times within 24 hours.
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Both smartphones and computers have apps that, in practice, work as if they were a combination of a calendar that tells you to take the tablets and a reminder. Just write down the names of the pills and enter the times you should take them, this will determine when you need to be warned to do so.
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If you can't organize yourself between digital reminders and apps, ask a family member or other person to do it for you.
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