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TIPS FOR MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

Write down what medications you take and when you’re supposed to take them. A good medication chart has spaces to fill in any instructions, like “take with food.” Keep it somewhere easily accessible, like on the refrigerator door, and always bring it to the doctor. It’s easy to update if you ever need to stop an old medication or start a new one.

Try to take certain medications as part of routines you usually do – for example, take some pills just after showering in the morning and others when brushing your teeth at night. It helps to connect those pills to a certain activity.

Set an alarm or watch to help remember when to take medications.

Use a pill box to organize medications. Lay out the pills for the week and separate them for the different times that you need to take them.

Don’t skip doses. Even if you’re feeling better, you still need the medications.

If you forget to take a dose, never take two at once. Instead, just wait until the next prescribed time and take it then. Just remember, if you have difficulty reading any of your bottles or if you’re confused, you can always ask for help from your doctor, or from a family member, neighbor, or friend. your health care practitioner, such as your doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, or pharmacist.

Keep an eye on how many doses you have left so that you order refills before you run out of your medications. If there is bad weather, or a storm coming, or if you’re going out of town, ALWAYS check to see if you’re running low on medications. You can refill them by calling your doctor and picking them up from your doctor’s office, or having them mailed to you. You can also call the number on the pill bottle to order refills. Finally, if you can’t get out of the house and need your medications the next day, if you call early enough you can have them sent by UPS and get them the next day.