How the heck do you remember to take all these meds?

[shoshin]

I was doing okay when I started the clinical trial since the pill was only once a day. Plus I had to be on birth control pills and those things are numbered so as long as I took everything at once, there was no confusion. Did I take it? Did I not take it?

Then I started taking another drug for symptoms that was twice and day and that wasn't terrible. Earlier this month my neuro also gave me a prescription for baclofen (which btw has helped a lot--if you have stiffness, I recommend trying it. No miracles, but I'm walking a lot more normally) twice a day. So that worked, but now I'm supposed to try it three times a day. Which means I have to remember to take something four times a day.

I see confusion and forgetfulness in my future.

How do people cope with this?

sho

[Lulu54]

Sho,
I gave in and did the senior citizen thing and bought a pill box that has four compartments for each day - morning, noon, night and bedtime.  I load my pills once a week.  I was getting so confused as to what I had or had not taken that I had to do something.  Your local discount store should have one of these handy things in the pharmacy section for under $5.  It was worth every penny because IF I remember to look at the box I can immediately see if I have forgotten my pills.

Full of senior moments,
Lulu

[Sailorsong]

I use a 7 day 2 times a day pill box to remember my meds. Actually I use 2 of them so that I have the next weeks pills already to go. I think I remember seeing one at Walmart that is a 4 pill one when I bought mine. It helps me a lot.

Dennis

[shoshin]

Thanks for the quick responses! I guess I am going to have to break down and do the senior thing, too. Now as long as I can remember to think about the pill box at the right time...

I hate taking all these meds, but I do feel better. On the other hand, I have this underlying fear about how much worse things could be getting and I wouldn't even know because it's being covered up by all these drugs.

sho

[essdipity]

I have been pretty successful in persuading my doctors to prescribe meds that need to be taken at most twice a day. I automatically remember first thing in the morning and last thing at night, sort of like brushing my teeth.

I NEVER remember meds at midday and don't want to, really. I don't want my life to revolve around meds, and usually I'm very busy with other things or out and about. That's the way life should be, I think.

So far, so good!

ess

[doni54]

Hi Sho,

I can identify with you about remembering whether or not I've taken something!!  Really annoying, isn't it?

I don't take anything but vitamins, and I have a hard time keeping up with taking them.  The pill box is a great idea and would probably make it much easier for you.

As far as the meds masking your symptoms, I think you would know if things were getting worse, cause you would have to up the meds that control those symptoms, right?

Well, good luck, and go buy that pill box!!!!!

doni

[shoshin]

Well, the pill box did help me be sure whether I had taken the meds or not, but I kept forgetting to think about the pill box at the right time.

I resolved the problem by asking my neuro if I could just take a whole pill twice a day instead of half three times. He thought that was all right to try as long as it still seemed effective and didn't cause any problems. That got me back down to only have to remember this stuff twice a day.

I did, however, bring this up with the pharmacist, who was sympathetic and suggested that I look into pill timers/alarms so if anyone else is having this problem, you might want to check these out.

sho

[meg321]

I always remember my first- thing-in-the-morning pill, it is how i get up finally but my regular everyday pills i can forget easily..and the are a handfull that you cant imagine forgetting, but I do.For those who can remember to fill it, the pill box is the best.

I also forgot my sleeping pill .last night until 1:00 in he morning when I couldnt sleep... go figure !

meg