Remembering tablets...

Humphrey10

I couldn't decide if this or the Health & Beauty board was the right one for this topic, so sorry if I've chosen the wrong one.

Does anyone have any tips on how to remember to take tablets? I have some to take morning and evening, and forget sometimes. It's an antiepileptic which I've been told to increase gradually over 8 weeks to the minimum effective dose, so if it's so important to only make gradual changes to the dose, I assume it is important not to miss a dose.

I've always had problems remembering tablets, eg antibiotics I always have some left after the 7 days (or whatever timescale), so I know I must have forgotten at some point.

I don't have any problems remembering the insulin, so I don't know why tablets are so much harder to remember!

dmg24

Your insulin has become second nature, this will do too in the end. In the meantime, set a daily alarm on your phone and/ or put them somewhere that you will not miss them. If that doesn't work, get someone reliable to call/ text you at the relevant time to remind you.

birkee

Pharmacies sell plastic boxes, that allocate tablets for a week on a day to day basis, or even, with three sections for each day, for medication to be taken three times per day. Only have to fill the box once per week. (Bout the size of a small paperback book for 3 times per day box.)

If medication needs to be taken more than three times per day, then you can put two tablets in the morning section for instance, and two in the midday section, and two in the evening section, or whatever the demand is.

when_will_it_end

i set a reminder on my phone for both our tablets, and then a second one 10 miutes later incase i was doing something an i forgot again, mine has just gone off

daska

I use a box and a phone. I set them up for a week then let my phone remind me when to take them. If I have to change the dose I write down the stages and dates so that I have something to refer to when setting up the box for the week. This all goes by the kettle so that if I don't remember, or the phone doesn't work, anyone visiting can see and remind me.

There's a huge variety of boxes and I've accumulated quite a few LOL, I have one with tiny compartments that allows for 6 doses a day, a huge one which looks more suitable for a horse than a human, one which is a tray that holds 7 individual boxes, each with 4 compartments which is great if you're going out for the day. And, while I don't have one myself, for people with complex tablet regimes it's possible to get a 'PivoTell' which can be pre-loaded by your pharmacy, allows for 28 doses and beeps at you for an hour as each dose becomes due - I do hope that last is never appropriate for me, I can't imagine taking 28 doses a day.

MrsManda

As stated above, alarm reminders are great while you're getting used to taking the meds and the pill dispencers are a good way of making sure you take the right dose as you can stock them by day.

I keep my anti-epileptic meds on my bedside table with a glass of water. Taking them is the first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before turning the light off before I go to sleep. You'll find it easier once you've worked out a routine which suits you, especially when you're at your full strength dose and don't have to faff with altering it.

How often do you take insulin? Is there any way you can merge the two routines?

richard9991

any tablets that have to be taken in the morning i leave the box on top of the kettle thats the first thing i do in the morning is have a brew

Humphrey10

dmg24 wrote: »

Your insulin has become second nature, this will do too in the end.

I was on tablets for the diabetes for a few years before starting insulin (it's a slowly progressing form of type 1 diabetes), and never was 100% at remembering the tablets! So I don't think it's getting used to taking them that is the problem, I think that because the insulin is more fiddly to do that it's easier to remember if I've done it or not.

birkee wrote: »

Pharmacies sell plastic boxes, that allocate tablets for a week

I'd seen daily ones but not weekly ones, a weekly one would be useful because I'd then have a means of checking if I'd taken the tablets that day or not. I'll have a look next time I'm at a chemist, thanks for the idea.

MrsManda wrote: »

How often do you take insulin? Is there any way you can merge the two routines?

3 times with meals + one at night. I take the night time dose of the tablets the same time as I take the insulin, it's more the morning dose I forget.

tanith

I keep my daily doses box on top of the bread bin, and take them at breakfast and dinner, putting them near my plate each time so they are there right in my eyes view..

bestpud

Pill box and phone reminders work well for me too.

Like when will it end, I have to have two reminders in case I don't take it the first time.

mary-op

I have epilepsy and have to take medication/tablets 3 times a day. I got a little boox from the chemist and count them out every week to fill the box then at least I can check I've had them -or not.
As mine are 3 times a day I work it so It's
breakfast-tablets
dinner-tablets
bed-tablets

Had them so long now it's almost second nature but other medication I have took a while to organise if you know what I mean but I'm there with it now.:)