Manage Your Medications
According to AARP, if you’re age 45 or older, chances
are you are taking prescription medicines on a
regular basis — four per day, on average. And that
doesn’t include the dietary supplements you may
be taking as well. Managing all those pills can be a challenge.
Here are some ideas you can use to keep tabs on your tablets.
It’s All in the Packaging
Although it’s a good idea to keep medicines in their original packaging, day-of-the-week pillboxes can help you keep track of what you are supposed to take when. Other tips include:- Don’t ever mix different pills in the same bottle.
- If you take pills at different times of the day, color-code the bottles according to what time you take the medication.
- Keep medicine bottles away from moisture, heat and light.
Know What to Take — And When
You’re more likely to remember to take your medicine if you take it at the same time every day. It helps to plan each dose around another part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. More advice to keep in mind:- To avoid taking the same medicine twice, jot down each dose you take on a daily calendar.
- Need help jogging your memory? Tape a reminder note on your fridge — or somewhere else you’ll spot it. You can even buy special “timer caps” that beep when it’s time to take your pills.
- Don’t forget to take your medications with you if you’ll be away from home.
- Before you swallow that pill, always double-check to make sure you’ve got the right one.
Keep the Facts Straight
It’s smart to maintain a list of all the medicines you take. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines. Update this list regularly, even with medicines you only use every so often. Make copies and share the list with your doctors and pharmacist.You also can bring all your bottles — including OTC medications and dietary supplements — to your next doctor visit. That way, your doctor can review your medicines for any interactions that could be dangerous.
Finally, let your doctor know if your medicines become difficult to manage. Your doctor may be able to help you simplify your routine.
