How to Organize a Home Medication Regime

More and more people are taking care of their ill loved ones at home.
One reason is that many prescription drugs can be safely administered
there. If you find yourself in charge of a complicated medication
schedule, you'll find that an organized system is less work overall--
and can let you, the caregiver, rest easier and stay well. Additionally,
well-organized, clearly documented routines make it easier for caregivers
to arrange for respite care.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Analyze the specific requirements of each medication. How often a day does it need to be taken? Should it be taken with food or on an empty stomach? Are there drugs that must be taken prior to it (such as antinausea drugs, which need to be taken before oral chemotherapy)?

2. Write out a schedule that reflects the requirements of all medications. Review the schedule with a doctor or pharmacist for accuracy and for conflicts.

3. Fill all prescriptions at the same pharmacy. This is especially important for patients seeing multiple medical specialists, all of whom are writing prescriptions. Pharmacists have databases that search for drug interactions and other possible complications.

4. Shop for a special pillbox to help you organize medications. There are boxes with several segments for different times of the day (morning, noon, dinner, bedtime), boxes with alarms and boxes with easy-to-read labels for the visually impaired.

5. Never remove the last pill from a bottle until a refill has arrived. then double-check that it's the right medication. Many medications, especially generics, look alike.

6. Get in the habit of rotating your pharmaceutical stock, using the oldest medications first.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider storing your medications in a linen closet. The heat and humidity of a bathroom or kitchen can be hard on pharmaceuticals.
• If the patient is easily confused, keep his or her medications securely locked to avoid accidental dosing.
• Keep each family member's prescription medications separate from others' in the same household.
• Each Wednesday, check to see if you need to get any prescriptions refilled. This gives you enough time to contact the doctor and pharmacy before the weekend.
• Two people should never share the same medications, even if they have the same symptoms.

[chiawana]

on 8/24/2008 You can also call around and find a pharmacy that will dispense meds in a blister pack, which makes dosing much easier and eliminates the chance of having the wrong meds in the wrong compartment of a pill box you fill up yourself. Each dose is in its separate "bubble" for each day of the month, and for each time of the day.