One of the requests I have from my clients is to help them manage their medication. Many people are on six or more medicines a day and have trouble organizing how to ensure they take them on the right day, at the right time, in the right quantity. I am offering some tips as to how you can manage your medications, or assist others if you are a caregiver, and welcome you to call or email me if I can be of assistance.
Create an Organizing System that Works for You
Create an organizing system to help you decrease mistakes with your medicine. Here are some suggestions.
USE A PILL ORGANIZER
You can buy a pill organizer at the drug store or online. There are many different kinds. Ask the pharmacist to help pick out an organizer that will work best for you.
Things to think about when choosing a pill organizer:
- The number of days — 7, 14, or 28-day size.
- The number of compartments for each day — 1, 2, 3, or 4 compartments.
- For example, if you take medicine 4 times each day, you can use a 7-day pill organizer with 4 compartments for each day (morning, noon, evening, bedtime). Fill the pill organizer to last 7 days. Some pill organizers let you “snap out” one day’s worth of pills. You can use this if you are out all day. You can also use a different 7-day pill organizer for the four times of the day. Label each one with the time of day.
USE AN AUTOMATIC PILL DISPENSER
You can buy an automatic pill dispenser online. These dispensers:
- Hold 7 – 28 days’ worth of pills.
- Dispense pills automatically up to 4 times per day.
- Have a blinking light and an audio alarm to remind you to take your pills.
- Run on batteries. Change the batteries regularly.
- Need to be filled with your medicine. You can fill it yourself, or have a trusted friend, relative, or pharmacist fill the dispenser.
- Do not allow you to take the medicine out. This can be a problem if you are going out.
USE COLOR MARKS ON YOUR MEDICINE BOTTLES
Use a color marker to mark your medicines by the time of day that you take them. For example:
- Put a green mark on bottles of medicines that you take at breakfast.
- Put a red mark on bottles of medicines that you take at lunch.
- Put a blue mark on bottles of medicines that you take at dinner.
- Put an orange mark on bottles of medicines that you take at bedtime.
CREATE A MEDICINE RECORD FOR YOURSELF AND FOR EMERGENCIES
List the medicine, what time you take it, and leave a place to check off when you take each medicine. If ever you have an emergency or hospital admission, it is one of the most important things you need to have available.
Know Your Medicines
Put on the list any prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins, herbs, and supplements that you take. Include the:
- Name of the medicine
- The dose
- What it does
- When you take it
- Any side effects
Use a Regular Doctor and Pharmacist
Bring the list and your medicines in their bottles to your doctor appointments and when you go to the pharmacy.
- When you know your doctor and your pharmacist, you will find it easier to talk to them. You want good communication about your medicines.
- Review your drug list with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Ask if there are any problems with taking any of your medicines together.
- Know what to do if you miss your dose. Most of the time, you move on and take the next dose when it is due. You don’t take a double dose. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor when you are:
- Not sure what to do if you missed or forgot your medicine.
- Having trouble remembering to take your medicine.
- Having trouble with taking a lot of medicine. Your doctor may be able to cut back on some of your medicine.
Take Charge of Your Medicines
Keeping track of your medicines is very important. Making sure that they are stored properly, that they have not expired when you take them, and that prescriptions are refilled requires time and attention.
Also, taking many different medications at the same time is difficult. It can be hard to remember what each drug is for, when you should take it, and how you should take it. This is especially true for people with memory problems. However, there are simple strategies you can use to help you manage your medicines wisely.
Simple Strategies
- Keep a checklist of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take. For each medicine, mark the amount you take, the time of day you take it, and whether it should be taken with food. Store two copies of the list: one on the refrigerator door or where your medications are stored, and one in your wallet or purse.
- Review your medicine record at every visit to the doctor and whenever your doctor prescribes new medicine. Your doctor may have new information about your medicines that might be important to you. Whenever possible, have your health care provider write down advice and instructions for taking each medication. Keep this information handy.
- Ask your pharmacist to provide your medicine in large, easy-to open containers with large-print labels. Keep medicines in their original containers, and never put more than one kind of medicine in the same container. Consider using multi-day dispensers that organize your medicines by the day and time that you should take them.
- To determine how a medication should be stored, ask your doctor or pharmacist and/or read the label. Some medications must be stored in the refrigerator. Your bathroom medicine cabinet is not a good place to store most medications due to the moist, warm conditions that can cause drugs to break down more quickly.
- Don’t stop taking a prescription drug unless your doctor says it’s okay — even if you are feeling better.
- Get prescriptions refilled early enough so you won’t run out of medicines. Running out could cause problems with your medicine schedule. Check expiration dates frequently and discard any medicines that are out-of-date.
- Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children and away from pets. If children do visit your house, be extra cautious and have the phone number of the nearest poison control center handy.
Your Pharmacist Is a Resource
Finally, the pharmacist is a good source of information about your medicines. In addition to answering questions and helping you select non-prescription medications, your pharmacist keeps records of all the prescriptions you get filled at that store.
Because the pharmacist keeps these records, it is a very good idea to have the same store fill your prescriptions whenever possible.
In Case of Accidental Poisoning
Be prepared in case of accidental poisoning involving medications or other substances. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 to speak with a poison expert at the poison center serving your area. The service is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and calls are always free and confidential. Interpreter services are also available in 160 languages. Keep the number programmed in your home phone and mobile device.
For questions or comments, contact Jane Bloom, The Other Daughter, 425-299-6020 or email janeinthevillages@gmail.com or visit me at www.theotherdaughter.org
