Did I take my statin this morning for my high cholesterol? Or was that the pill for my diabetes? Maybe I should just stop taking my antidepressant, since it’s hard to remember this many pills.
If your day is interrupted by thoughts like these, it may be time to sit down and make a daily medicine schedule.
Keeping track of medicines can be tricky, especially if you’re treating several health conditions. The more medicines you take, the easier it is to make a mistake.
But with a few tips and tricks, even managing multiple conditions can become a smooth routine. Here’s how to figure out what works for you.
Build a schedule around your day
For many people, having a schedule they can look at each day makes taking medicines more manageable. Here’s how to make one:
Gather a list of your medicines. Include prescriptions as well as medicines you use without a prescription, like supplements. Double-check to see that your list matches the one in the system at your healthcare team’s office.
Create a blank chart. You can draw your own or download free templates from the internet.
Split your daily schedule into segments that match your routines. For example, you may have morning medicines and bedtime medicines. Experts recommend taking medicines fewer than 4 times a day. Twice a day is most manageable.
Start with medicines that are time specific
Some medicines have to be taken at a certain time each day. It may be helpful to add these medicines to your schedule first, since they have less wiggle room.
For example, proton pump inhibitors, when prescribed to help reduce stomach acid, may work best if taken before or during a meal. Certain statins, which treat high cholesterol or high blood pressure, are most effective if taken at bedtime. Other statins should be taken with food.
Find the most convenient time to take other medicines
For medicines that can be taken any time each day, find a time that’s convenient and easy. Sometimes that may mean grouping medicines together. For example, you might be more likely to remember your daily vitamin if you take it at the same time as your nighttime blood pressure pill.
But you should also consider the side effects of certain medicines. For example:
If your antidepressant makes you sleepy, take it before bed.
Steroid for your arthritis keeping you up at night? Take it in the morning.
If a certain medicine causes nausea, you may feel better if you take it after eating.
You can add each medicine to your chart until it’s complete. You may need to adjust times once you try it for a week or so, to find what works best for you.
Learn tricks for remembering to take your medicine
Once you have a schedule for your medicines, try these tips for remembering to take them.
Make your chart hard to miss. Tape it somewhere you’ll see it every day, like the inside of your coffee cupboard or next to your bathroom mirror.
Use a pill box. This can keep you organized whether you’re at home or traveling. Be sure to ask your healthcare team first, as some medicines should not be stored in pill boxes.
Tie your medicines to another routine. If you often forget your medicines but always remember to brush your teeth, put your pill bottles next to your toothbrush.
Set an alarm. You may get distracted and forget your medicine — but your phone never will.
Ask for help. Have a loved one help you create your medicine routine. They also may help remind you to take your medicine if you forget.
Use an app to manage prescriptions. People who use a mobile app on their phone are less likely to forget to take their medicine.