Managing medications for yourself or a loved one can be a difficult task.
Between coordinating multiple prescription fills each month, monitoring medication changes, and adhering to doctor directions, it can quickly become overwhelming.
However, good medication management is critical to the success of any prescription medication regimen.
Here are a few tips to help you stay on track with your medication management.
Medication Management Tips
Tip 1: Create & Maintain a Medication List
One of the most difficult things about medication management is keeping track of everything.
Creating an up-to-date list of medications can help with that.
The list should include:
- Name & Strength of Medication
- Directions for Taking
- Prescribing Physician
- Refill Date
- Pharmacy Being Filled
Try to update the list monthly or more frequently depending on your individual needs. This will help you keep track and stay up to date with the status of all your medications.
Tip 2: Build A Routine
Getting in a routine is one of the most effective ways to manage multiple medications for yourself or a loved one.
Routines help build and reinforce good habits for both medication adherence and compliance.
Your routine might consist of:
- Setting aside specific times or events throughout the day to take your medication.
- Finding time each week to plan your medication needs and set yourself up for success in the upcoming week.
- Designating specific “pharmacy days” each month where you review and update your medication list, to review your medication list.
No matter what the routine consists of, having one will help set you up for success when managing multiple medications.
Tip 3: Set Reminders
This tip might seem a little obvious, but reminders can be a powerful way to ensure medication adherence when managing multiple medications.
Reminders help trigger your memory and serve as a gentle nudge to take your meds.
Most importantly, with modern technology, they are extremely easy to set up. Anyone with a smartphone can easily set recurring alarms throughout the week. If you don’t have a smartphone, you could opt for emailing yourself reminders as needed.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you choose as a reminder as long as it works for you and helps keep you on track.
Tip 4: Utilize A Pill Box
A pillbox is one of the oldest and easiest ways to manage multiple medications.
Most pillboxes will come with multiple compartments, usually labeled by each day of the week. Some will even come with AM/PM slots.
Although you will need to organize this at the beginning of each week, a little up front planning will help you simplify everything else!
Alternatively, if your pharmacy offers blister packaging then that can be a great option as well.
Tip 5: Get The Prescriptions Delivered
Getting prescription delivery can be a great way to save time and money when you are managing multiple prescriptions.
Imagine having prescriptions delivered right to your home or work instead of driving to the pharmacy 2-3 times each week!
Although that used to be something you paid extra for, now that is no longer the case.
No matter where you are in the country, you likely have an option for free prescription delivery. For example, at NowRx Pharmacy each of our locations offers free same-day pharmacy delivery which provides convenience to customers at no additional cost.
And no, the drugs aren’t more expensive. Your copays are usually the exact same as what you would pay to drive to CVS or Walgreens and wait in line to pick up.
Managing Your Medication
Managing multiple medications is no easy task.
Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, it requires planning, attention to detail, and most importantly, consistency.
However, by following these tips we hope you will find it a little bit easier moving forward.
If you have any questions for our pharmacists or need help transferring a prescription for free same day delivery, visit NowRx.com.