7 ways to stay on top of your medications

Taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor is one of the most important first steps in managing health conditions. Following your doctor’s orders can lead to fewer complications. If you’re struggling to stay on top of your pill regimen, here are a few ideas to get back on track:

Use pill packets. Ask your pharmacist about pill packets, in which your medications can come presorted. This allows for a personalized, color-coded prescription schedule, so you’ll know what pills need to be taken on what day and at what time.

Color code your pill bottles. First, create a grid to let you know what each color stands for, such as morning, noon, and night. Once you figure that out, use a marker to put a circle on each corresponding bottle. Or use colored labels.

Write it down. Prefer pen-and-paper notes? Write down your medication schedule on a calendar or notebook. Keep it in a place where you’ll see it every day, and check off each dose you take. Mark the date when you need to refill each prescription as well.

Co-opt your daily habits. Do you brush your teeth every night before bed? Or what about your morning coffee? Keep your pills next to the bathroom sink or near the coffee pot. Seeing them as you’re doing another daily activity can help remind you to take them.

Set alarms on your phone. If your smartphone is always by your side, it can be a handy tool for remembering your meds. Set a daily alarm at a time when you are usually free and have access to your pills.

Ask friends or family to help. Recruit friends or family members to help you remember. They can text you in the morning or call you over lunch. A bonus is that this method is a great way to check in with people you love every day!

Use a pill organizer. Pill organizers let you presort your pills for each day. Some pill organizers also come with morning, midday, and evening slots, so you can sort your pills by the time you take them each day.