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Remembering daily meds - what works for you?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/4/2008 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
So, how do you remember to take your (myriad) daily meds?

Share your tips and advice on this issue.

So far I've found these things helpful:

1.  a weekly pill case with daily sections which is filled at the beginning of the week. Of course, it doesnt always get filled, which lands me back at square one - remembering to fetch the bottle and take them.

2. Since i so often remember as i'm out the door or at work, i (try to) keep a daily dose in my coat pocket or small supply in my work bag (the only thing that has really worked so far, as it covers the bases).

Please share your tried and true advice or what didnt work. This is something i'm sure we ALL struggle with!

:)

Posted 4/4/2008 7:38 AM (GMT 0)
I got into the routine of taking my meds before bedtime before colitis. Now that I have to take them in the morning too, I've made it routine to take them before brushing my teeth...not sure if that helps, but just making it part of my everyday routine is enough for me. Sounds like you're being pretty smart about it all. Also, try having the bottles out in front of you by the sink. Even one bottle by the faucet is enough for me to stare at and remind me I haven't taken my pills yet. I'm terrible at keeping things on a calendar, so that doesn't work for me.
Posted 4/4/2008 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I spend a lot of time at my computer desk at home. I keep my med sorters in a cubby on the desk. I always sit there in the morning while I'm getting my morning hydration, and at bedtime to check mail and messages before I go to bed. I rarely forget those two. My mid-day meds I put in the bag with my lunch. The main problem I have is if I go out to lunch. Then I usually forget and have to take them when I get home. Fortunately I don't go out to lunch often.

But yes, keep them where you can see them (but careful if you have young children) and develop a routine.
Posted 4/4/2008 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
I got a weekly pill case from walgreens. Each day has 4 sections and pops out so i can carry around only that days pills. I set an alarm in my phone to go off three times a day. I also have several small wooden hide a box type things that i keep extra asacol, zofran, ect in just in case i am not near my pills. I haven't mised a dose since i started this two years ago. At one point before i knew anyone with kids i kept a covered bowl (i collect hand thrown pottery so i have lots of these around the hose anyway) full of asacol. i would just dip in like a candy dish. But too many people through the house stopped that.
Posted 4/4/2008 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
I keep all my meds in little boxes in a make-up bag in my purse. I keep a food journal, so i write down everything i eat, I also write down what meds i take. otherwise i forget if ive taken doses already or not! i take all my meds with food, so the journal is a great reminder.
Posted 4/4/2008 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I keep bottles thruought the house. I have a bottle by my toothbrush so in the morning I see it. I have pill boxes by where I keep my flush wipes in both bathrooms, this way I won't miss them, I also keep a pill box next to my fridge, and just like a man, I have pill boxes next to every tv remote control. Because, lets face it, if somehow I miss all my other pill boxes, there is NO WAY a man will go without his remote!! lol
Posted 4/4/2008 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I keep a 1-2 week stash on my dining table because I take meds with food. When I put my plate on the placemat, I take 3 Colazal capsules out of their container & place them RIGHT BESIDE the plate of food. That way if any distraction occurs, such as phone call, ringing doorbell, etc., I won't forget to swallow the pills because they'll still be right where I would see them when clearing the tableware! I also carry a 2-day supply along in my purse, routinely. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 4/4/2008 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I also keep a weekly pill case.  In addition, though, I set reminder timers on my Blackberry.  I am rarely without it, and an alarm sounds every time I am supposed to take pills.  I started using this when I started taking the iron because the iron couldn't be taken with my other pills, and I kept forgetting to take it.  The reminder alarms really work.  They allow me to completely forget about my meds.
Posted 4/4/2008 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
routines, is the only way I can remember. I do the same thing every morning and every night. the weekends I sometimes forget to take my calcium midday b/c I am always doing different things.
Posted 4/6/2008 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
wow - thanks all for your suggestions.
while its easy to have great ideas, sticking to them is a whole 'nother story.....!!
Phone alarms, pill cases, bottle placement, routine - great ideas. tried so many...and i see that different things work for different pple.

Please continue to post here, new suggestions are always welcome and prevalent!
Posted 4/6/2008 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
It's pretty easy for me, I start off with taking the oil of oregano first, then before I eat supper I now take my probiotics, then with supper I take my B12, omegas 3-6-9 and bee propolis, then at about 8pm I take another omega 3-6-9 with Vitamins A and C-Calcium Ascorbate, then just before bed I take another omega 3-6-9, another bee propolis and my fibre supplement.

If you associate it with meals, just before meals and bedtime or as soon as you wake up then it's an easy routine to get into for me anyways.

:)
Posted 4/6/2008 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
I've just routinized it. I only have 2 dosing times -- that I try to keep around 12hrs apart. When I get up in the morning, I'll gather all the days pills into an older (smaller) prescription bottle that I keep on my person all day. First dose is with breakfast, and the second is around 8ish-pm. Between the routine and the noise the pills make in my pocket when I move around it's pretty hard to forget.
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