Keeping Track Of Medications - Tips & Tricks
Anyone with a chronic health condition knows the pain of keeping track of medications. And the same can be said for their caretakers as well.
I know that both my daughter (who has epilepsy) and my elderly mother are prone to forgetting a dose here and there. Needless to say, that stresses me out quite a bit, so I’ve set out to find some ways to manage medications in order to help them. And I thought I’d share some of the tips and tricks I’ve found with you.
The Dangers Of Missed Medication
But before we get into how you can be more consistent and careful with your medications, I want to address why this is such a serious topic. Because I’ve found that many people mistakenly believe that one missed dose of medication “here and there” is no big deal.
Missing medication is a big deal! And in the case of missing seizure medication, it could lead to breakthrough seizures even in people with well controlled epilepsy. Plus, the more doses you miss… the higher the stakes get. It could even lead to status epilepticus, which can be deadly.
This is why you should never quit taking medication “cold turkey”, and instead, should follow your doctors recommendations about how to wean yourself off it.
Tips For Keeping Track Of Your Medications
Now, with all of that out of the way, let’s dive into some ways that you can avoid missing doses of your medication. (Or even taking too much on accident, because that can be quite dangerous as well.)
Tip #1 - Have A Pill Organizer
Firstly, whether you take one pill every day or twenty… I’m always going to suggest that you invest in a pill organizer. These are so easy to find, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they’re extremely affordable as well.
Most organizers will have a slot for every day of the week, and many will have a slot for both the morning and night of every single day. In case you’re someone who takes multiple doses per day.
These pill organizers not only help you keep track of which medications you’ve already taken (or not taken) from day to day… But they’ll also make your daily life a bit easier, because you can simply fill these organizers up one day a week and save yourself the hassle of sorting through bottles every day.
Tip #2 - Keep Your Meds In A Place You Pass By Often
Especially if you’re not used to taking your medications yet, it might also be helpful to keep them in a location that you pass by often. Specifically if you can put them in a place that you pass by at approximately the time you need to be taking the pill.
For instance, if you know that you take a certain medication before bed… then perhaps you could place your pill organizer in your bathroom where you brush your teeth! It’s really just a matter of knowing your schedule, and trying to find ways to make taking the medication seem more natural.
Tip #3 - Set Alarms
Now, while the previous tip can be useful when you’re trying to form a habit out of taking your medicine, you’ll still need to make sure that you have a failsafe. Which is why I always suggest that you set a daily alarm that goes off at the times you need to take your meds.
This ensures that no matter how busy you get, you’ll always remember to take your medication on time. As long as you’re sure to take the meds as soon as the alarm goes off that is, otherwise you might forget again.
What To Do If You Do Miss Medication
If you employ all of the tips I just mentioned, then hopefully you’ll never miss a dose of your medication. But accidents sometimes happen, and just in case… I thought I’d include a section that covers what to do if you do end up forgetting a dose.
First of all, don’t try to double the dose the next time you take your meds. This might seem like the logical solution to many, but it could actually lead to a lot of side effects. Because it will simply further unbalance the levels of medication in the blood.
Next, you can check out your medication’s leaflet (which always comes with your meds). These leaflets contain a lot of useful information. Including what you should do in the case of a missed dose. And since every medication is different, it’s always best to read this to be certain of your next move. You could also call your doctor and ask for their opinion.
And lastly, your course of action will probably be influenced by how many doses you take per day. The more you take, the less worried you’ll likely need to be. Because your next dose is never far away. Whereas if you only take one per day, your doctor might urge you to go ahead and take your daily dose late.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you don’t want to risk the side effects of missing a dose of medication. So it’s best to always stay on a strict schedule when it comes to taking your meds. And through alarms, building habits, and correctly organizing your medication… you can ensure you take your medicine on time every day.
But if you do miss a dose somehow, don’t panic. Just call your doctor, read the resources you’ve been given, and follow medical advice.
Sources
As always, here’s a list of my sources for this post…
https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-triggers/missed-medicines
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