As we age, the amount of drugs we need seems to increase. Arthritis, heart disease, lung problems, and other illnesses become more common. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember what medicine to take and when. That’s where those little plastic pill boxes come in handy.
Pro: There are a variety of them, depending on your needs. If you must take a medicine more than once a day, there are boxes that have three or four compartments for each day of the week. If you only need to take them once a day, there are boxes that allow you to plan things for up to two weeks.
Swindle: When the pill bottle is empty, it’s time to throw it away, right? Not so fast if you use a pill planner. You could forget to refill your medicine, and if you don’t have the bottle, it’s hard to order it again. One method to avoid this is to simply turn the empty bottle upside down. This reminds you that it is empty and keeps important information, such as the prescription number, available.
Pro: Pill boxes can also help you take the number of pills you need. For example, if you are taking a strong pain reliever, there is a limit to how much you can take per day. Unfortunately, the stronger the pain reliever, the more likely you are to forget that you have already taken one. It is very easy to take more than prescribed. If they are in the pillboxes, you can know that it has already been taken and that the risk is reduced.
Swindle: Most of us associate a prescription pill bottle with something we need to drink. The pillbox can be a bit more difficult to associate with taking an important medication. Some medications do not have a noticeable effect on us, although they are extremely important.
Pro: You can put your supplements in the box, which makes it easier to remember to take them. This includes garlic and omega-3 capsules / tablets.
Swindle: Some capsules look the same, so it may be easy to mix them up. Any medicine that is added with garlic will likely have that smell and taste. Some types of fish oil need to be refrigerated, so be sure to read the labels.
If you use one of these planners, make sure you get the one that best suits your needs. If you are not sure which one to buy, talk to your pharmacist. He or she will know how many medications you take and how often to take them. That will help you find the right one.
