After needing a reminder to take my Warfarin the second day that I was prescribed the medication, I helped myself remember to take my medication by writing it down in my planner. I also take it at bedtime daily. I will check it off each day after I take it.
For Alisabeth: Would the use of a pill organizer help you remember to take your medication? At the beginning of each week you could place the correct number of tablets for each day into the section of the organizer with the corresponding label. For example, place three tablets into the box labeled Monday. I think this would help you keep track of which days you need to take three tablets and which days you need to take two tablets.
Along those same lines Alisabeth, I recommend these (http://www.forgettingthepill.com/cgi-bin/ForgettingThePill/order.cgi?orderone++Organizers+1+754+1) to patients all the time. They are pill organizers with two compartments for each day, but the catch is you can pull out a "day" and put it in your purse, no need to carry the whole thing around, just grab each day's pills and off you go.
I did something similiar to Joedope, I kept the medication in my bag, in a pocket I would have to reach into everyday, and so be reminded to take it. I also thought about settinga timer on my phone to vibrate at the same time every day, to remind me to take it. But I realized I didn't this as keeping the pills in a regularly accessed place, took care of reminding me. The weekend might be harder, if I didn't plan on studying (or at least getting on my computer) every day.
In order to remember taking my medication later on during the day, I would try to use a cell phone with the alarm programed to ring every 8 hours. Because I am usually around my cell phone throughout the day, I feel that this method might be useful in helping me adhere to the therapy. I could even program the alarm to show the words "medication" to add even more reinforcement for compliance.
Although I forgot to take my medication a few times within the first few days, I found that carrying my medication around with me helped me to remember to take it. It was easy to remember to take it first thing in the morning with breakfast because I kept the pills right next to my bed stand. However, during dinner, I found myself forgetting a few times. I decided to keep some pills visible to me by the dinner table, so that helped me to remember after a while.
To Vincent Ngai: I did not think to add an alarm to my cell phone to remind me. That is an ingenious idea! I wish I had thought of that. It would've helped me to remember to take my WelChol at the beginning. I think I will program an alarm into my cell phone as well. You might also want to consider keeping your pills in plain sight at the dinner table. It helped me remember to take it. :)
To Joedope - Since keeping the medication in your backpack could be an issue during the weekend, you may want to consider putting it by your nightstand instead or somewhere more visible to you on a daily basis. By keeping it on your nightstand, you can set a time to taking warfarin each morning when you wake up or at bedtime.
I feel that linking the pills to something else helps a lot in remembering to take them. I missed the second pill the first couple days, till I decided to take it right before dinner, which helped me remember it for the rest of the week. It was a lot easier to remember the first and third pills since they were already linked to wake up/ sleep time...
to asiler: I think setting a timer on your phone is a good idea, but might not be very helpful if you are at work and not able to have access to your cell phone, which could lead to you missing the pill or taking it at a later time. I think it depends on each individual age/profession/habits as to what works best for him to remember the pill. Pill organizers are definitely a good idea too.
I'm supposed to take my meds four times a day, so I basically did it right before I left the house, right when I got home, right before bed, and then after lunch seemed to work the best for me as a mid-day reminder. It's not exactly evenly spaced but it worked, and was easy to remember as everything was a clear cut reminder event for me.
I carried my medication in my purse so that I would always have it with me to take. However, this was not enough of a reminder for me. I should have made a schedule for each day of when to take the mediation or used an alarm on my phone or watch as reminders.
Like Katelyn I also kept my medication on me in my laptop bag so it was always with me at school or at home. However, I also found out that just because I had it with me, it wasn't a reminder. I tried linking my 3x per day regimen to meals, but my meal schedule was different with different days or I missed a meal altogether at times, so that wasn't helpful. Looking back I think a better way would be if I had set an alarm on my phone for each dose like Vince mentioned. I think it would really help reduce missed doses and keep a better time interval for people who have to take multiple doses per day like I did.
Alisabeth, the planner idea is a great idea too. I bet there is probably an app out there for phones now that have pill reminders on them, that would be another good idea to try if you keep your phone near you all the time.
I don't think putting warfarin tablets in the dining table is such a great idea because your guests would be judging you once they know what medications you are on. Also, it would be a hindrance when you are eating throughout the day. It may be better to put it in a 1/2 bathroom that does not contain a shower.
@Alisabeth and @Lauren, There IS an app that helps with keeping track of what pills you've taken throughout the day. "Pillbox" lets you check off each medicine day by day: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pillbox/id303851018?mt=8 How does it work for you?
After needing a reminder to take my Warfarin the second day that I was prescribed the medication, I helped myself remember to take my medication by writing it down in my planner. I also take it at bedtime daily. I will check it off each day after I take it.
ReplyDeleteFor Alisabeth: Would the use of a pill organizer help you remember to take your medication? At the beginning of each week you could place the correct number of tablets for each day into the section of the organizer with the corresponding label. For example, place three tablets into the box labeled Monday. I think this would help you keep track of which days you need to take three tablets and which days you need to take two tablets.
ReplyDeleteAlong those same lines Alisabeth, I recommend these (http://www.forgettingthepill.com/cgi-bin/ForgettingThePill/order.cgi?orderone++Organizers+1+754+1) to patients all the time. They are pill organizers with two compartments for each day, but the catch is you can pull out a "day" and put it in your purse, no need to carry the whole thing around, just grab each day's pills and off you go.
ReplyDeleteI put the medication in my book bag where I knew I'd see it each day. I can now foresee a problem for my compliance over the weekend!
ReplyDeletePill organizers are indispensible!
I did something similiar to Joedope, I kept the medication in my bag, in a pocket I would have to reach into everyday, and so be reminded to take it. I also thought about settinga timer on my phone to vibrate at the same time every day, to remind me to take it. But I realized I didn't this as keeping the pills in a regularly accessed place, took care of reminding me. The weekend might be harder, if I didn't plan on studying (or at least getting on my computer) every day.
ReplyDeleteIn order to remember taking my medication later on during the day, I would try to use a cell phone with the alarm programed to ring every 8 hours. Because I am usually around my cell phone throughout the day, I feel that this method might be useful in helping me adhere to the therapy. I could even program the alarm to show the words "medication" to add even more reinforcement for compliance.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I forgot to take my medication a few times within the first few days, I found that carrying my medication around with me helped me to remember to take it. It was easy to remember to take it first thing in the morning with breakfast because I kept the pills right next to my bed stand. However, during dinner, I found myself forgetting a few times. I decided to keep some pills visible to me by the dinner table, so that helped me to remember after a while.
ReplyDeleteTo Vincent Ngai: I did not think to add an alarm to my cell phone to remind me. That is an ingenious idea! I wish I had thought of that. It would've helped me to remember to take my WelChol at the beginning. I think I will program an alarm into my cell phone as well. You might also want to consider keeping your pills in plain sight at the dinner table. It helped me remember to take it. :)
ReplyDeleteTo Joedope - Since keeping the medication in your backpack could be an issue during the weekend, you may want to consider putting it by your nightstand instead or somewhere more visible to you on a daily basis. By keeping it on your nightstand, you can set a time to taking warfarin each morning when you wake up or at bedtime.
ReplyDeleteI feel that linking the pills to something else helps a lot in remembering to take them. I missed the second pill the first couple days, till I decided to take it right before dinner, which helped me remember it for the rest of the week. It was a lot easier to remember the first and third pills since they were already linked to wake up/ sleep time...
ReplyDeleteto asiler: I think setting a timer on your phone is a good idea, but might not be very helpful if you are at work and not able to have access to your cell phone, which could lead to you missing the pill or taking it at a later time. I think it depends on each individual age/profession/habits as to what works best for him to remember the pill. Pill organizers are definitely a good idea too.
ReplyDeleteI'm supposed to take my meds four times a day, so I basically did it right before I left the house, right when I got home, right before bed, and then after lunch seemed to work the best for me as a mid-day reminder. It's not exactly evenly spaced but it worked, and was easy to remember as everything was a clear cut reminder event for me.
ReplyDeleteI carried my medication in my purse so that I would always have it with me to take. However, this was not enough of a reminder for me. I should have made a schedule for each day of when to take the mediation or used an alarm on my phone or watch as reminders.
ReplyDeleteLike Katelyn I also kept my medication on me in my laptop bag so it was always with me at school or at home. However, I also found out that just because I had it with me, it wasn't a reminder. I tried linking my 3x per day regimen to meals, but my meal schedule was different with different days or I missed a meal altogether at times, so that wasn't helpful. Looking back I think a better way would be if I had set an alarm on my phone for each dose like Vince mentioned. I think it would really help reduce missed doses and keep a better time interval for people who have to take multiple doses per day like I did.
ReplyDeleteAlisabeth, the planner idea is a great idea too. I bet there is probably an app out there for phones now that have pill reminders on them, that would be another good idea to try if you keep your phone near you all the time.
ReplyDeleteTo Pim,
ReplyDeleteI don't think putting warfarin tablets in the dining table is such a great idea because your guests would be judging you once they know what medications you are on. Also, it would be a hindrance when you are eating throughout the day. It may be better to put it in a 1/2 bathroom that does not contain a shower.
@Alisabeth and @Lauren, There IS an app that helps with keeping track of what pills you've taken throughout the day. "Pillbox" lets you check off each medicine day by day: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pillbox/id303851018?mt=8
ReplyDeleteHow does it work for you?