Medicine IS Treatment
For the vast majority of health conditions, medications are the only thing that doctors have to help make you better (surgery is the other major tool). That’s is: medications and surgery. The rest of a doctor’s tools and technology are diagnostic, in other words things to figure out which medication (or surgery) you need. If you get your prescription filled and don’t take actions to make sure you take your medications correctly and on time, you are undermining everything. So take some time right now and try our some ideas to remember your medicine.The Pill Box
The simplest method is a pill box. You put your medicine in each little container for the day of the week. That way you know if you have taken your medicine or not. You can get simple pill boxes at your pharmacy. There are even pill boxes for people who need to take medication 3 times a day or more. The pill box is also a great way of seeing just how often you forget to take your medicine. You can’t argue with yesterday’s pill still sitting in the box.Pill Placement
Out of site, out of mind is really true when it comes to medication. Place your medication out in the open (away from children, naturally) where you can see it. This is especially important in the first week or two of taking a new medication. After your medication habit is strong, you can put the medicine away — but don’t do it until you’ve had two full weeks of not forgetting a dose.The Reward
It’s a lot easier to remember something pleasant than something unpleasant. Use this to your advantage by linking taking your medicine with some reward (like a piece of chocolate). You can very quickly develop a habit of a piece of chocolate (or other pleasant thing) at a certain time of day. Your craving for the chocolate will trigger your memory to take your vitamins.The Silly Pat
Believe it or not, doing something silly just before you take your pills can help you remember your medicine everyday. Researchers actually tested this idea by having seniors, in a lab, put their hand on their head before doing repetitive memory tasks. When the seniors did this, they were able to remember the tasks better. So the idea is to do something unusual when you go to take your medicine (tap your head, knock on wood, anything involving touch). By adding in another sense, you’ll increase your chances of developing a habit of taking your medicine at that time.Keep a Current Meds List
You may be surprised how often someone forgets what medications he is supposed to take or forgets about a medication entirely. Keep a current medications list, complete with dosage and any special instructions. Refer to the list weekly when you fill up your pillbox to make sure your aren't forgetting anything. While your at it, try these other tips for optimizing your medical care.Don't Forget Refills
Another reason people miss doses is because they forget to fill their refills. If you have a good pharmacy, they will call to remind you (but that is not always the c ase). Instead, put your refill dates on your calendar. This is especially important if you use a (often cheaper) mail order pharmacy.Check for Interactions
Another common reason people miss doses is that they believe the medication is making them sick or giving them side effects. Before you blame the medication, check this website: Drug Interactions to make sure your medications aren't fighting with each other. Also, carefully read labels about foods that may interfere with the effects of your medications.Give us your own ideas for remembering to take your medicine or read what others have to say. Just check out the Readers Respond section below.
Source: A Silly Pat on the Head Helps Seniors Remember Daily Med. Newswise Medical News. July 2009.
