5 ways to remember to take your medication

Do you find yourself forgetting to take your medication from time to time? These five tips will help you stay on top of your treatments.

1. Use a pill organizer. This accessory allows you to keep track of what pills you’ve taken and when. Plus, using a pill organizer makes it easier to track medication you only take a few times a week as opposed to daily. Ask your pharmacist for help choosing a model that works for you.

2. Mark a calendar. Prepare an agenda or calendar to track the medications you take every day. If you’re the type who goes out a lot, you can get a small one that’ll fit in your pocket.

3. Set an alarm. Use an alarm on your watch or cellphone to keep track of when you need to take each medication. Cellphones allow you to set multiple recurring alarms so you don’t need to remember to program them every day.

4. Use memory prompts. Store your medications in places where you’ll see them. This will make it easier to remember to take them. For example, you could put morning pills next to the coffee maker and leave your evening pills next to your toothbrush.

5. Download an app. Medisafe and Med Minder are among the many apps specifically designed to help you remember which pills to take and when.

Remembering to take your medications can be difficult but using one or more of the above strategies is bound to help.

A tough pill to swallow? Some tablets can be cut or crushed if you’re having trouble swallowing them. Talk to your pharmacist to know which of your medications can be taken this way.