5 Ways to Remember to Take Your Meds

Taking medication is an integral part of illness recovery and maintaining health. Depending on
your condition, there can be serious consequences to missing or mis-timing a dose. But we’re
only human, and humans sometimes forget. Some medications even require a very specific
schedule, such as “take before bedtime” or “take on an empty stomach.” Here are a few quick
tips on how to remember to take your meds.

​1. Associate your meds with a routine.

If you take a certain pill in the morning, put it next to the mug you use for your morning cup of
coffee, or next to where you sit to read the paper. That way, you’re guaranteed to see it on
your morning routine and be reminded to take it.
If you take a pill right before bed, put it on your bedside table, next to the last lamp you’ll turn
off before going to sleep. If you take a pill at lunchtime at work, put the pill inside your
lunchbox.

​2. Set an alarm.

Set a good old-fashioned alarm for when you need to take your meds. For multiple alarms and
maximum flexibility, use the clock function on your smartphone. You can customize different
alarm tones for different meds, or even record yourself saying “take your pills!” as the alarm
sound.

​3. Use reminder products

​There are plenty of nifty products out there designed to help you not miss a pill, such as daily
pill containers and dispensers.

​4. Have a back-up.

Keep a few extra pills in your purse, car, or at work. There are also little container keychains you
can attach to your keys so you’ll have an emergency set of pills if you suddenly remember you
haven’t taken them.

If missing a dose is a serious issue for you, talk to your doctor about making an emergency
back-up plan. Don’t assume that you’ll be perfect and take your drug correctly every day.
Planning for irresponsibility is part of being responsible!

​5. Ask for help.

​Letting someone else know about your medication schedule gives you a failsafe. Two heads
remembering are better than one! Preferably, this would be someone you live with or spend a
lot of time with every day, such as a partner, family member, or colleague.

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