The biggest problem I faced taking my medication this week was the hassle of changing it. The troches burned and were not well tolerated so the pharmacist called the doctor and switched me to a mouthwash. She was even nice enough to give me a small bottle that I can pour some in so I don't have to bring the whole bottle to work everyday. Doctors should have to try some of these medications before prescribing them. Thank God for pharmacists!
The biggest problem I faced taking my medication this week was remembering to take my warfarin. The first dose was easy for me to remember because I took it right after being prescribed the medication. Luckily on the second day, a classmate asked me in the evening if I had taken my medication yet for the day and I had not so I took it right away after the reminder.
The biggest obstacle in taking my medication was determining what time each day to take the medicine. The time between taking my three tablets for the day was eight hours, so I couldn’t take the medicine with all of my meals because there is not eight hours of time between the three main meals of the day. Also, by not having a regular sleeping schedule; I do not go to sleep or wake up at the same time every day, I had to calculate the next day at what time I needed to take my first tablet based on when I went to sleep the night before. Therefore, I was taking my medicine at different times each day which made forgetting very easy and remembering very hard.
Consistent time of day is my biggest challenge so far. To ensure my taking it, I've kept my medicine in my book bag where I know I will look each day, however the time of day is quite variable. I should set up a reminder on my watch or e-calendar to improve in that. Dr. Rager, at my appointment on Thursday, suggested I take them with dinner, so I'll give that a try.
I take a different number of pills on different days, and just recently that amount changed. These changes make it difficult to keep track of what my correct regimen is. I almost took too many today, but luckily remembered my daily dose was reduced.
The biggest challenge for me in taking the drug so far is remembering to take the drug later on during the day. Many events happen during the day that distracts me from remembering to take it later on. It was much easier for me to take the medication during the mornings when less was going on.
For asiler: Did your doctor or pharmacist explain to you why your Warfarin dose needed to be adjusted? Remember not to take any herbal medications while on Warfarin and consult your pharmacist and doctor about which over the counter products are safe to take while on this medication. Also, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist how often you eat green leafy vegetables. Changes in your diet or the addition of other medications may have affected how your Warfarin changes your blood clotting and caused you to need a change in your dose.
My biggest problem with taking this medication was determining when I would take it. I'm supposed to take WelChol with meals, but I eat my meals at random times throughout the day. Therefore, I felt that I took the medication at different times each day, and I hope that this didn't reduce the effect of the medication in some way. Also, having to take 3 tablets all at one time was rather annoying and difficult.
To Katelyn Miller: I felt that I also had the same problem as you. I also sleep and wake up at different times each day, and I also eat my meals at different times. I am not sure if it is necessary for me to take my medication at the same times every day. I felt that as long as I got the 3 pills into my system twice a day, I did my job. Hopefully I am correct in believing so. I will ask my pharmacist when I see her again.
For asiler, I was also prescribed warfarin with different strengths for different days. The dosing regimen also changed a few days after I started the med. I found it helpful to write it down in my planner to remember how much of the medication to take each day and it was also easier to see when I needed to "hold" the medication.
To Katelyn: My pharmacist did actually explain to me that my dose needed to be changed because my INR wasn't where it needed to be- it was a little high. She also warned me about herbals, OTC stuff, and consistancy in my diet though, thanks for reminding me.
To Alisabeth: The planner is a good idea, and I should have thought to write down the change in my dose, because after looking, I realized I don't know where the new regimen notes I have from my pharmacist went to. So, I've relied on my memory for the correct dose, which might not be the most reliable. I was also thinking of having a calendar, where I could get in the habbit of noting any changes in my meds, or problems I'm having, and also for marking off the day after I took the pills.
The biggest challenge for me was to remember to take the second pill every day. I have been taking a PPI this week so it was easy for me to remember taking the "other pill" too in the morning. And it was also relatively easy to remember to take the third one before I sleep. However, the second pill which is in the afternoon was the hardest to remember, as I could not link it to another event or thing (example morning pill, before going to sleep...).
To vincent: yes, I feel the same way about the many events in the day that could lead to missing the second or third pool. The only thing that helped me remember the third pill is linking it to bedtime... Maybe taking the second pill at dinner time could help with remmebering to take it...
Bassam, have you thought about linking the pills to meals? Three times a day is usually pretty easy to link with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Although it may vary with the medication, as some you need to take on an empty stomach. Trying to remember an hour before or 2 hours after each meal would be tricky.
I was prescribed Amoxicillin 3x per day for 7 days. The biggest problem taking this medication for me was remembering to take it at consistent time intervals. I originally planned taking it after breakfast, lunch and dinner to help remember; however, I had trouble with this because some days I would miss a meal and forget about taking it or my meals were at different times of the day and wasn't spaced out well. Even though linking pills to meals may be helpful like Andrew mentioned, when it came down to actually trying it I still found it difficult.
Bassam, I agree with you I had a problem remembering to take the 2nd, and third (for me) pill. Its hard enough to take one every day and remember, but two, three, four or more makes it that much more difficult. When I see patients come in the pharmacy with those type of regimens I wonder to myself how they keep so compliant or if they have the same troubles we have had.
@Bassam and @Lauren, The second or even third or fourth are very difficult for me as well. I found that by going portable with my medicines, I was able to take most doses at the right time. I keep pills in a small screw-top keychain that's always handy. Whenever I think of the pills, which happens more often since they're right in my pocket, I just take them if it's time!
The biggest problem I faced taking my medication this week was the hassle of changing it. The troches burned and were not well tolerated so the pharmacist called the doctor and switched me to a mouthwash. She was even nice enough to give me a small bottle that I can pour some in so I don't have to bring the whole bottle to work everyday. Doctors should have to try some of these medications before prescribing them. Thank God for pharmacists!
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem I faced taking my medication this week was remembering to take my warfarin. The first dose was easy for me to remember because I took it right after being prescribed the medication. Luckily on the second day, a classmate asked me in the evening if I had taken my medication yet for the day and I had not so I took it right away after the reminder.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest obstacle in taking my medication was determining what time each day to take the medicine. The time between taking my three tablets for the day was eight hours, so I couldn’t take the medicine with all of my meals because there is not eight hours of time between the three main meals of the day. Also, by not having a regular sleeping schedule; I do not go to sleep or wake up at the same time every day, I had to calculate the next day at what time I needed to take my first tablet based on when I went to sleep the night before. Therefore, I was taking my medicine at different times each day which made forgetting very easy and remembering very hard.
ReplyDeleteConsistent time of day is my biggest challenge so far. To ensure my taking it, I've kept my medicine in my book bag where I know I will look each day, however the time of day is quite variable. I should set up a reminder on my watch or e-calendar to improve in that. Dr. Rager, at my appointment on Thursday, suggested I take them with dinner, so I'll give that a try.
ReplyDeleteI take a different number of pills on different days, and just recently that amount changed. These changes make it difficult to keep track of what my correct regimen is. I almost took too many today, but luckily remembered my daily dose was reduced.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest challenge for me in taking the drug so far is remembering to take the drug later on during the day. Many events happen during the day that distracts me from remembering to take it later on. It was much easier for me to take the medication during the mornings when less was going on.
ReplyDeleteFor asiler: Did your doctor or pharmacist explain to you why your Warfarin dose needed to be adjusted? Remember not to take any herbal medications while on Warfarin and consult your pharmacist and doctor about which over the counter products are safe to take while on this medication. Also, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist how often you eat green leafy vegetables. Changes in your diet or the addition of other medications may have affected how your Warfarin changes your blood clotting and caused you to need a change in your dose.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem with taking this medication was determining when I would take it. I'm supposed to take WelChol with meals, but I eat my meals at random times throughout the day. Therefore, I felt that I took the medication at different times each day, and I hope that this didn't reduce the effect of the medication in some way. Also, having to take 3 tablets all at one time was rather annoying and difficult.
ReplyDeleteTo Katelyn Miller: I felt that I also had the same problem as you. I also sleep and wake up at different times each day, and I also eat my meals at different times. I am not sure if it is necessary for me to take my medication at the same times every day. I felt that as long as I got the 3 pills into my system twice a day, I did my job. Hopefully I am correct in believing so. I will ask my pharmacist when I see her again.
ReplyDeleteFor asiler, I was also prescribed warfarin with different strengths for different days. The dosing regimen also changed a few days after I started the med. I found it helpful to write it down in my planner to remember how much of the medication to take each day and it was also easier to see when I needed to "hold" the medication.
ReplyDeleteTo Katelyn: My pharmacist did actually explain to me that my dose needed to be changed because my INR wasn't where it needed to be- it was a little high. She also warned me about herbals, OTC stuff, and consistancy in my diet though, thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteTo Alisabeth: The planner is a good idea, and I should have thought to write down the change in my dose, because after looking, I realized I don't know where the new regimen notes I have from my pharmacist went to. So, I've relied on my memory for the correct dose, which might not be the most reliable. I was also thinking of having a calendar, where I could get in the habbit of noting any changes in my meds, or problems I'm having, and also for marking off the day after I took the pills.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest challenge for me was to remember to take the second pill every day. I have been taking a PPI this week so it was easy for me to remember taking the "other pill" too in the morning. And it was also relatively easy to remember to take the third one before I sleep. However, the second pill which is in the afternoon was the hardest to remember, as I could not link it to another event or thing (example morning pill, before going to sleep...).
ReplyDeleteTo vincent: yes, I feel the same way about the many events in the day that could lead to missing the second or third pool. The only thing that helped me remember the third pill is linking it to bedtime... Maybe taking the second pill at dinner time could help with remmebering to take it...
ReplyDeleteBassam, have you thought about linking the pills to meals? Three times a day is usually pretty easy to link with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Although it may vary with the medication, as some you need to take on an empty stomach. Trying to remember an hour before or 2 hours after each meal would be tricky.
ReplyDeleteI was prescribed Amoxicillin 3x per day for 7 days. The biggest problem taking this medication for me was remembering to take it at consistent time intervals. I originally planned taking it after breakfast, lunch and dinner to help remember; however, I had trouble with this because some days I would miss a meal and forget about taking it or my meals were at different times of the day and wasn't spaced out well. Even though linking pills to meals may be helpful like Andrew mentioned, when it came down to actually trying it I still found it difficult.
ReplyDeleteBassam, I agree with you I had a problem remembering to take the 2nd, and third (for me) pill. Its hard enough to take one every day and remember, but two, three, four or more makes it that much more difficult. When I see patients come in the pharmacy with those type of regimens I wonder to myself how they keep so compliant or if they have the same troubles we have had.
ReplyDelete@Bassam and @Lauren, The second or even third or fourth are very difficult for me as well. I found that by going portable with my medicines, I was able to take most doses at the right time. I keep pills in a small screw-top keychain that's always handy. Whenever I think of the pills, which happens more often since they're right in my pocket, I just take them if it's time!
ReplyDelete