Technology and medication
24 Dec 2013
With so much on our minds on any given day it can be easy to forget to take routine medications.
Rather than brush it off as a one-time mistake, only for it to accidentally happen again, there are types of technology you can use to schedule daily reminders.
In order to be effective, many prescription medications need to be taken at regular intervals or even specific times of day.
While it can be difficult to admit that you are becoming forgetful, for the sake of maintaining good health there’s no harm in enlisting a little extra help.
For starters you should always keep your medication in plain view. You are more likely to forget to take it if it’s out of sight and out of mind.
Set an alarm
An easy way to remind yourself that doesn’t require you to purchase any additional devices is to set an alarm on your mobile phone. Be sure to name the alarm so that you don’t brush it off as something else. If you take multiple medications at different times of day, labelling your alarm will minimise confusion. If you don’t own a mobile phone there are digital alarm clocks on the market that you can program multiple alarms into at one time.
Mobile applications
If you have a smartphone there are free reminder applications available on both iPhone and Android devices.
Dosecast is a popular application that lets you schedule reminders and also tracks your medication history. A great feature is that if you’re travelling it adjusts to the time zone you are in. The app will also continue to alert you that it’s time to take your medication until you manually switch the alarm off, rather than sounding up until the time ticks over. The notes feature also allows you to record dosage information and guidelines associated with different drugs. Reminders can be set at daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly intervals.
Automatic pill dispenser
Another option if you don’t have a mobile phone is an automatic pill dispenser. These portable units are lockable and can be programmed to dispense medication up to 28 times per day.
A reminder alarm sounds when it is time to take the medication, however you will need to remember to refill the dispenser after 28 uses.
The Independent Living Centres Australia (ILCA) organisation features a list of locations on their website where you can purchase the dispenser. Just search Automatic Pill Dispenser.
Medication watch
Another product recommended by ILCA is a Cadex Alarm Medication Reminder Watch.
The water resistant watch sounds an alarm and displays the name of certain medications up to 12 times per day. Additional prompts, such as the number of pills to be taken, can also be programmed into the device. The watch stores the owners name, phone number and critical health information, which can be accessed by anyone in the event of an emergency.
The medical information stored includes:
- Details of conditions – diabetes, asthma, hemophiliac, Parkinsons's, heart condition, aphasia, epilepsy etc
- Allergies
- List of medications, blood type, date of birth
- Doctor's name and phone, emergency contact info, Insurance company and policy number
As another level of precaution keep your loved ones in the loop about the times and types of medication you need to take.
®