strategies for not forgetting to take a medicine.For a drug to have the desired effect, it must be taken according to the doctor’s instructions, respecting the times and days that it must be taken. This information is usually present in the leaflet that comes with the medication, in the “how to use” part, to be consulted in case of doubts. However, the doctor’s decision is the most important, since he knows the state of the disease and the characteristics of the person.
In case you forget to take the medicine, you should follow the information on the medicine leaflet. Generally, it is advisable to take the next time, at the correct time, so as not to change the time or overlap medications.
In order not to forget to take the medicine, there are some important tips such as:
1. Set a time to take the medicine
Some medications must be taken at well-defined times, for example, every 8 hours or every 12 hours, such as antibiotics. Other medications, such as those used to lower cholesterol or lower blood pressure, should be taken in the morning or evening. Some should only be taken before meals or only after, such as anti-inflammatories, so as not to cause stomach pain.
Establishing a schedule helps to create a routine, which makes it so that, when the time comes, it is known that taking the medication is part of that moment.
2. Create mobile reminders or write on post-its
Most cell phones have an alarm that can be set to ring at the same time daily, reminding you to take your medication. If the cell phone does not have this function, you can use a digital clock and set the alarm to ring at the desired time. After hearing the ringing, the medicine should be taken immediately, as leaving it for a few minutes can lead to forgetting.
Writing on a post-it something like “take pill” and posting it on the fridge, television, computer or other visible place also helps to remember about the need to take the medicine.
3. Use a box to organize medicine
There are boxes that have divisions by days of the week or by times of day, namely morning, lunch, dinner and sleep, which allow you to store the pills or pills inside each division, so that there is a better organization of the medicines.
If you use a box with the days of the week, at the beginning of each week you must organize the pills and separate them by division so that they are already defined for each day. In the case of using boxes for times of day, this division should be made the night before.
4. Have medication in multiple locations, such as at work
A good strategy is to have the medication in several places and in a visible place to remind you that it is necessary to take it. An example is having medication in the workplace so that it is difficult to miss the moment to take it.
5. Ask the other person to remind you to take the medicine
It’s a good idea to ask a family member or friend to remind you to take your medication or to ask if it’s already taken. Currently, there are also companies that send messages to the cell phone reminding them to take the medication.