If you have several medications to keep track of, or have difficulty remembering to take important pills on a regular basis, a pill reminder system can be an important tool for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A variety of pill reminder systems are available, ranging from organized pill boxes to complicated alarm reminders. The best pill reminder for your individual lifestyle can be determined by examining a number of factors.
If you are interested in a simple, affordable pill reminder, a basic pill box may suit your needs. These boxes typically hold a week’s worth of pills at a time with a separate box for each day. This system allows you to sort all of your pills at once, so that you need only open the appropriate box and take those medications on any given day. If you have multiple pills to take, this is a very useful system, especially if you don’t take the same set of pills each day.
Patients who take only one pill each day may find a pill box to be too large and overly complicated for their simple needs. In this instance, the best pill reminder is a system which gets your attention at a certain time each day, prompting you to take your pill. The cheapest way to set up this type of reminder is to create a daily alarm on your cell phone. You can also purchase small electronic devices similar to a pager or watch that will remind you to take your pills one or more times a day.
If you are on the go, a small pill reminder is key. The system will lose its effectiveness if you leave it at home all day while you are at work or running errands. Pocket size timers and accompanying pill boxes are the best choice if you have multiple pills, need an audible reminder, and spend a lot of time away from home. This system can be tucked into a pocket, purse, or briefcase and kept on hand at all times.
Larger and more complex pill reminder systems are available for those who are at home most of the time and have a complicated set of medications to take. Some systems will hold as many as four different doses for each day with up to 30 days’ worth of boxes. These systems can be programmed with multiple alerts each day for various pills. This type of pill reminder can be quite expensive and is best suited to individuals with a professional caregiver who can help set up the system.
Before deciding on the best pill reminder for your needs, consider how many pills you take, how often you need to be reminded, whether you need an audible reminder, and how much you are willing to pay for this system. With these parameters in mind, you should be able to find a system that fits your lifestyle and medications.