How to Organize Your

Medications
By Natalie Slivinski
Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on August 18, 2021

IN THIS ARTICLE

 Use a Pillbox
 Make a Checklist
 Go Automatic
 Take Single-Dose Packets
 Turn to Technology
 Adopt Helpful Habits
 Talk to Your Doctor and Pharmacist

An apple a day to keep the doctor away sounds easy

enough. But it can be confusing to stay on track with
your prescription drugs from start to finish, especially if
you are taking multiple medications and supplements.
Try these tips and tools to organize your pill schedule,
prevent missed doses, and make sure you never run out
of refills.

Use a Pillbox
They’re inexpensive and handy, and you can find them
at your local pharmacy. Basic organizers have separate
compartments for each day of the week. Bigger ones
have multiple slots if you take pills more than once a
day. This allows you to sort drugs according to exactly
when you need to take them. (If you want a pillbox
alternative, you can put medications in different-colored
bottles for separate times of day.)
You can safely store most medications in the same
organizer compartment with other drugs for short
periods of time without them interacting. But check with
your doctor or pharmacist to make sure.
Also, make sure your pillbox is filled correctly. It’s easy
to drop in two pills where there should be only one or to
put the wrong medicine into a bottle. You also need to
remember to refill your organizer when it’s empty. It
may help you to do it on the same day each week or
month. If you need extra help, ask a friend or a relative
to fill your pillbox when they visit.

Make a Checklist
A written chart that shows which medications to take
and when to take them is another good way to stay
organized. You can find them online or make your own.
Include the name of the medicine, the dose, when you
take it, and what the pill looks like. Also mark any
special instructions, such as whether it should be taken
with food.
Leave space to check off that you've taken each dose.
Update your drug list as soon as you change
prescriptions.

Go Automatic
If your medication schedule is complicated, an automatic
pill dispenser may be the way to go. You can rent one by
the month. Or you can buy it for a few hundred dollars,
or spend up to a thousand bucks, sometimes with a
monthly subscription fee. It can hold more than a dozen
pills of all shapes in each cup and alert you when it’s
time to take them.
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
The fanciest dispensers can connect wirelessly to your
pharmacist to let them know if you skip a
dose. Medicare for seniors doesn’t cover these gadgets.
But some state Medicaid programs for people with low
incomes or disabilities may pay for them. Check with
your insurance.
You can also get cheaper automatic dispensers for under
$100. These often look similar to regular plastic
pillboxes. Some rotate mechanically on a timer, and
many lock to keep you from accidentally taking the
wrong dose. You can program these to alarm when
you’re due for another dose.

Take Single-Dose Packets

Ask your doctor or pharmacy if they can give you
predated single doses or blister packs. Some pharmacies
will organize your meds into separate, custom-filled
packets, which are marked with the date, day of the
week, dosage, and even the time of day when you
should take the drugs. Just make sure to let your
pharmacy know right away if your prescriptions change.
Predated packets work best when you know your routine
will stay the same. You may still want to order a few at a
time in case there’s a change in your prescriptions.
If your dosage changes often, or you’re just starting a
new drug and you know your doctor will probably adjust
your medication, this might not be the best option for
you.
Some pharmacies also can personalize and simplify your
prescription schedule. You get easy-to-follow instructions
(in some places in Spanish) with the best times of the
day to take your meds and in ways that lower the
number of daily doses. Ask your pharmacy if it offers a
similar program.

Turn to Technology
These can be your handy helpers! Research shows that
technology can really help you stick to a schedule.
Set alarms on your phone to help you remember to take
your medication or refill your dispensers each week or
month. You can also program your phone or computer to
send you an email or text message when it’s time for
your meds. You can tweak these alarms to fit any
regimen, whether you’re taking your meds at the same
time each day, three times a day, or just once a week.