Multiple conditions and keeping track of all your medications

@ottol

Thanks for advice about Medisave app, going to check it out.

In article Colleen post, there is link to "Expert advice for managing meds"; the article recommends a medication management appointment, has anyone ever done one?

Laurie

Whitecross Pharmacy Medpack sends your prescriptions monthly for free. They are located in North providence, R.I.

@kaylin7
Free? How exactly does that work?
Jake

In answer to Laurie, I have had an appointment called a 'medication review". This was with the Pharmacist. We had 30 minutes uninterrupted to discuss my meds, what they are for, when I took them, reviewed side effects to watch for, which ones need to be refrigerated and covered any questions. Also checked the timing of when I took my vitamins.
I would say that the "compliance packaging" is very helpful. If I had to keep opening all of those little bottles all day, I would be messing up... as well as getting frustrated with the whole process!
It was very good, learned afew things, and the Pharmacist also was reassured that I was doing things properly. I am in Canada, so there was no charge.
If you have opportunity, I would recommend. No point taking meds if you are taking them incorrectly... could even be counter productive.

@kaylin7
I had the daily pouches delivered at one point which is a great option if your memory is intact. But mine memory isn't. Even though I had water and my pills in plain sight the importance of taking them didn't register. Since I would forget them I put them in an automated pill dispenser and with its irritating alarm I quickly take them now. If I didn't it sent an email and then called me. If I still didn't take them it called my brother.
Jake

A couple years ago I found the Medi-Safe app on Android. I liked it & recommended it to my sister, who still uses it on her iPhone. However, on Android they got greedy, & wanted to charge MONTHLY for usage if you had more than one medication.

A pill reminder app is not complicated. It's basically a calendar/database app that keeps track of your medications & sends you notifications when you need to take them. Other optional features some have:

1. A medication database that includes info on each medication. You don't have to enter all the info for each medication you are taking.

2. You can save your medications & history, so that you can move them to another device.

3. You can share your dosage history with your doctor.

4. You can get information about your medical conditions (although I think the web is a better resource).

That's it! There is no need for continuing support from the app's developer or an Internet connection to use it! So, when Medi-Safe got greedy, I researched & chose "My Therapy" (free w/ no ads). However, recently they've added ads, claiming they need the revenue "to keep My Therapy free". The final straw for me was the targeted ads based on my medications for my perceived medical condition (prostate cancer), which I thought was a gross violation of my privacy, & perhaps a violation of HIPPA law.

So yesterday I moved to an "open source" free (no ads) app called MedTimer on Android. I think there is a different app with the same or similar name for the iPhone, but it's from someone else.

MedTimer has matured over the last year & is a very decent replacement for both of the above apps. You do have to key in the names of your medications (it has no database of medications), but otherwise is quite easy to setup & use.

@readandlearn

Thank you for sharing that information. I take a lot of (maybe too much?) medications, so I downloaded MedTimer, and will almost certainly give it a try. BTW, there are two apps with that name, one of them rated at 4.7, the other one unrated as yet I picked the rated one. Again, thanks.

Yaakov K. in Jerusalem

I went simple. Created alarms on my phone and named them for the pills I needed then.

@altilla That also works! However, an app does provide history.

I also have multiple diagnoses, and take a large number of different medications every day. Over the years, I have developed an excellent working relationship with my pharmacist. He has all my prescriptions on file in the pharmacy (on computer), and once a week I go in and pick up a Webster Pack, in which my pharmacist has put all the medications I take in one week, labelling them 'morning' 'lunchtime' etc. and the dates on which I should take them. If my doctor(s) change my medication, then I notify my pharmacist and he changes his records accordingly.
The pharmacist also tells me, when I go in to pick up the Webster Pack, what medications I am running low on, so I can ask for new prescriptions when I see my doctor(s) next. This is not only a brilliant solution when travelling, but cuts out much of the stress and anxiety of counting out medications yourself. I am writing from Melbourne, Australia, so I do not know whether this service is available in your country, but there is no harm in asking! @ellu