7 Tips for Managing Your Medications

By Justin Bioc, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, RPh, Clinical Pharmacist at Devoted Health

Taking your daily medications is one of the easiest, most effective ways to stay healthy and live longer. By keeping your chronic conditions under control, you can avoid hospital visits and have more time to do the things you enjoy most.

But remembering to take your medications isn’t always easy. We can help. Here are my top 7 tips for managing your medications.

1. Ask for What You Need
   Many medications come in different forms, like liquids, capsules, and tablets. If you have trouble with the form you currently take — like maybe you find it hard to swallow pills — you’re less likely to take your medication. If that’s the case, talk to your pharmacist about getting a form that’s easier for you.
   
2. Try a Pillbox or Journal
   You might find that storing your pills in a pillbox or keeping a running journal of when you last took your medications is all you need. It’s low tech, low cost, and often gets the job done.
   
3. Get Smart with Technology
   If low tech hasn’t been the answer for you, try an app for your phone, such as Medisafe and Dosecast. There are tons of apps out there, so don’t be afraid to try a few and see which one works best for you.
   
4. Build a Routine
   Take your medication at the same time every day so it becomes a habit. Let’s say you take your medications first thing in the morning. Put a cup of water and your medicine by your bed before you go to sleep. Even better, build it into something you already do. So maybe put your medicine on the table where you have breakfast, whatever will give you that visual reminder to take it first thing in the morning.
   
5. Let Your Pharmacy Do the Work
   Ok, so you’ve got your pillbox or your snazzy new app (or both!). You’ve made taking your medication a regular part of your routine. And it all goes great until you run out of medicine. Let’s talk auto-refills, a service offered by many pharmacies, where they let you know you’re about to run out of medicine. I’m a big fan of auto-refills because the pharmacy does the work for you. You can also try a high-service pharmacy, such as ExactCare, PillPack, or SimpleMeds. They put your medications in convenient packets with labels that tell you when to take them.
   
6. Get Your Refills Delivered
   Make refills even easier by getting them delivered to your door. At Devoted Health, we offer mail-order service though CVS Caremark. Mail order works best for your maintenance drugs, like cholesterol medications, because the pharmacy works with you to get refills before you run out. It might also save you money on copays. Learn more about mail order.
   
7. Talk to Your Pharmacist
   If you’re not sure what tool or service to use, your pharmacist can help. They’ll look at the medications you need, ask some questions about what might work best for you, and make some suggestions.

Disclaimer
This article is for general reference only (learn more). Always talk to your doctor or other health professional for medical advice.