As per recent research, as many as 66% of the adults in the US use prescription drugs on a daily basis! The medication could be for anything – from a common cough and cold to a disease as life-threatening as cancer.
While for common diseases, the number of medicines is generally limited. But, in the case of serious diseases like cancer or Alzheimers, where heavy medication is taken daily, medication management becomes a necessity. But, not all of us are aware of the concept yet. And even if we are, we have yet not found out ways to do it smartly.
So, if you are wondering how you can manage your medication smartly, here are 10 tips to help you in doing so:
Table of Contents
1. Buy a pill organizer
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The first tip on the list to manage your medication smartly is to invest in a pill organizer. We do not even need to tell you why you gotta do this – it is self-explanatory!
A pill organizer places all your various pills in a single place so that you do not have to run to every corner of your house in search of that one tablet. You open a single box, and that’s it, all your medicines are there – neatly arranged in separate compartments.
2. Make a schedule for your medication
The second and an important tip, yet again. Making a schedule for your medication is much more crucial than it actually sounds. A neat and well-prepared schedule ensures you do not miss out on any medicine, ever.
Plus, it also ensures that you take all your medications at the correct time – before lunch, after dinner – just how it is prescribed by the doctor. On a sheet of paper or on the computer, either way, it is an effective way of managing medication!
3. List down the name of your drugs
Source: medium.com
Listing down the name of the many drugs that you consume is yet another smart way of managing your medication. List down everything about the medicine – the dosage, timing, the probable side effects, etc. Especially, when the medicines are heavy and strong, making a list becomes more important.
Make photocopies of this list and share it with your doctor and pharmacist and keep one with yourself. This is yet another way to manage medication and adding new drugs to your routine effortlessly.
4. Talk to your pharmacist
Keeping in touch with your pharmacist is really important in managing your medication efficiently. Many times, we feel the medication is showing side-effects. If that happens, reach out to the pharmacist.
Your pharmacist not only knows your medicines and your medical history, but they are also aware of the capability of your body. They can help you in making the right kind of adjustments in the dosage or the frequency of the drugs which you intake.
5. Store medication properly
Source: elpasotimes.com
One of the best ways to effective medicine management is to take care of the storage of your medicines!
Store all your drugs, syrups, and tonics properly in a single place. Never throw away the original packaging of the drug as it contains various important details about the medicine – the manufacturing date, the expiry date, the ingredients, possible side-effects, and all.
Some of the medication needs to be stored in a refrigerator while some need to be stored normally. Take care of this very minutely.
6. Include medication in your daily routine
This goes without saying – for proper consumption and management, you need to allow the medication to become a part of your daily routine. Give yourself reminders, or set alarms to keep up with the schedule.
Make sure you do not miss out on the medicine under any circumstance. Follow this method, until medication becomes a part of your everyday routine.
7. Resort to an app
Source: phys.org
One of the best and easiest ways of managing your medication smartly is by deploying an app that is solely dedicated to serve this purpose.
While there are many such applications available in the app store for medication management, MedAdvisor App is revolutionary. This app provides you with a virtual pharmacist who is available day and night!
8. Minimize the number of doctors you visit
When you minimize the number of doctors you see to treat the illness, you are actually making it easier for yourself to manage medication fluently. The fewer the number of doctors, the lesser the number of medicines you are prescribed.
In fact, limit the number of your pharmacist too. Resort to one pharmacist only to help you supply your medications for better medication management.
9. Refill the medicine before you run out of it
Source: healthline.com
One of the best tips to manage the medication smartly! Do not wait till the last tablet is consumed – refill your pill organizer beforehand.
Call your pharmacist when you find out only 5-6 tablets are remaining. This ensures that you never run out of medication besides ensuring you do not miss out on some critical medicine.
10. Do not self-medicate
Last but never least, never self-medicate. Many times, due to a lack of knowledge, we consume medicines that prove to be harmful to our health. Never skip a dose, or increase or decrease the frequency as per your choice.
Again, always take advice from your doctor or your pharmacist before taking a new medicine. This ensures you are taking your medications the right and safe way.
Over to you…
Medication management is really important. Especially for senior citizens who might be suffering from memory loss disorders like amnesia, proper medication management is a must. In a nutshell, medication management is essential to lead a safe life.
Here, we listed the 10 most essential and smart tips to manage your medication in the most efficient and fluent manner. Follow these tips to ensure smart medication management by yourself, without having to employ a professional for this purpose. This not only consumes less time but is also very effective, so these tips should be really handy.
