If we divide people into categories, older people are most likely to be surviving on different medications. With poor memory, at times it becomes a challenge for them to remember about their dosages and timings of consumption of these medicines. This particular challenge has also been found in working people. Due to the workload, people tend to forget their medicines.
Such behavior can take a toll on people’s health. Every dose of medicine has to be taken in the proper amount and at the exact time for the treatment to show results. In case you’re under too many medications at a particular time, you might get confused and mix the medicines. To avoid such barriers, the best way is to establish a proper medication system.
Here are the 5 easy ways to help you manage your medicines on time.
1. Pill box
Pillboxes are common but the best solution to not miss out on medicines. They come with seven or more compartments depending upon the size you take. Each compartment from these seven compartments denotes a particular day of the week. Suppose you mark the first compartment as Monday, the second compartment as Tuesday, and so on.
Some of these pillboxes also come with 30 or 31 compartments to keep you in check for the entire month. Keep all the medicines that you need to take on a particular day in each specified compartment. This way you’ll remember to take all the medicines and no medicine will get skipped.
2. Reminders
The pillboxes will help you keep your medicines organized. But what if you don’t remember at all to take these medicines? This is when you have to level up and set reminders for every dose that you have to take.
Smartphones or alarm clocks work best for this purpose. You don’t need to keep a constant watch on the clock to recall if it’s time for your dose. Enjoy with your loved ones or work in your daily routine. When the alarm buzzes, just open the pillbox and take the medicine. Simple!
3. Buy from a single store
Like we have a family doctor, why can’t we have a family medical store? We know it’s comparatively easier to buy medicines from the nearest pharmacy but it is not advisable. Make sure you buy all your medicines from a single store to avoid confusion.
Most pharmacists keep an electrical record of patients these days. With the help of this record, the pharmacist can also guide you if you’re consuming an incorrect combination of medicines or a low power dose. When you forget, they can also remind you that it is time to refill your medicines.
4. Consume medicines as recommended
Don’t take the doctor’s instructions lightly. They are doctors for a reason. Make sure you store the medicines as guided. Ask the doctor if the medicine has to be consumed before or after meals. Ask if you should consume the medicine with water or milk. What can be the other food habits that you need to take care of while consuming these medicines?
If you’re habituated to alcohol, ask a doctor before consuming. With some medicines, alcohol is prohibited. Ask what should be done if you accidentally skip a dose. Never play with the dosages. Consume the right amount as prescribed.
After knowing all these factors, you can divide them accordingly in your pillbox to keep your medicines organized.
5. Use medication apps or websites
According to PWC, 56% of doctors have initiated the use of healthcare tools and 26% of patients have asked about it. The use of such apps is increasing every day.
You can also try apps like My Medadvisor and see if it works wonders for you too. They help you to keep a check on your medicines, remind you to take them on time, and may also connect you to your local pharmacists in times of crisis.
Over to you…
It is always advisable to manage your own medication system to avoid confusion or skipping doses if you’re under long-term treatment. Make use of innovative methods or apps to keep you reminded about your medicines so that you also get time to work and enjoy your life.