Remember to Take Your Medication: Tips for Avoiding Missed Doses

Taking medication, especially more than one kind of medication, can be challenging. If you have ever missed doses or stopped taking medication your doctor prescribed, you might be surprised to find out this is very common. According to a review by the Annals of Internal Medicine, 20%-30% of prescriptions are never even filled, and almost 50% of medications for chronic conditions aren’t taken correctly. 1

There are many risks of skipping or reducing doses of medication or stopping medication your doctor has prescribed. Some of them don’t show up right away but can be very serious. In fact, every year this is estimated to cause 125,000 deaths and 10% of hospitalizations. 2

What can be done about this? The reasons that it happens are complex, and there are many possible ways to improve your medication adherence. Let’s take a closer look.

What can I do to avoid missed doses of medication?

We’ve mentioned that missing doses of your medication can have serious consequences. These include:

Worsening symptoms of health problems the medication is supposed to treat
Worsening of the actual condition the medication is treating
New medical problems developing

What are some of the barriers to taking medication correctly and what can you do to help avoid missed doses?

When side effects or costs are barriers

Oftentimes, bothersome side effects from medications discourage people from taking them regularly. Add in high copays– often more than one for multiple medications– and it’s a perfect recipe for cutting doses in half, or just skipping the medication altogether. In one survey, 32% of adults taking 4 or more medications reported difficulty affording medications. 3 Here are some strategies you can try to improve these barriers:

Talk to your doctor about side effects- don’t assume you have to put up with them. Sometimes a medication or dose change relieves the problem. Other times side effects improve with time and consistent use, or a medication can be added that relieves the side effect.

Ask for a better formulation- is a medication hard to swallow? It might come in liquid form. Is there an extended-release formula so you can take it once a day instead of twice?

Keep a current list and review your medications at every doctor visit- are there any medications that could be discontinued? What about medications that could be combined? Some drugs come in a combination form that is two medications in one pill (less to take and only one copay!). Reviewing your list is also helpful to make sure you are taking the doses of all your medications correctly without mistakes.

Ask about less expensive options- sometimes brand-name medications become available as generic drugs, which costs less. And some insurance companies offer lower copays for a 3-month supply instead of 1 month.

Ask about manufacturer discounts and other coupons- your pharmacist can tell you about any available discounts or drug programs that you can get medications through for a lower cost. Some manufacturers offer programs that pay the entire drug copay, leaving you with $0 out of pocket. There are also companies online that offer prescription discount cards for many common medications.

Check to see if your insurance provider offers health coaching- for some conditions or specialty medications, insurers or employers have programs that help you manage your chronic health problems and medications. Nurse case managers keep in contact with you through regular telehealth check-ins. They can troubleshoot side effects and drug interactions, and help with healthy habits and strategies. They can also help you with navigating insurance authorizations and delays and remembering refills.

I can’t remember to take my medications or refill them, what should I do?

Even if you can afford your medications and have managed any side effects, organizing and remembering doses and refills is not always easy. There are some tried and true tricks to help with this, though:

Stick to a routine- to take your medications at the same time every day, you can try setting an alarm on your phone. Or if you are especially tech-savvy, some medication apps will remind you as well. This is particularly helpful with medications that are not taken daily, such as some injections. You can use this strategy for refill reminders, too.

Use a pill organizer- the same day each week, fill the pill organizer for the week. This helps you to see whether you took a dose or not if you can’t remember. There are also electronic pill keepers that will alarm until opened.

Ask your pharmacy for individual packaging- some pharmacies offer daily dose packs with all of your medications pre-sorted for you for the entire month. These can be easier to open for people with arthritis, too. (Always keep medications away from children!)

Pair your medication with a routine- think about something you always do without fail. Do you always pour a cup of coffee in the morning? Put your medication right next to the coffeemaker. Or set your toothbrush on top of your pill organizer as a reminder.

Use notes and calendars- if you live by your planner or calendar, a note there can remind you to take your medication or refill it. Post-it notes in unusual places– on the cabinet you get your cereal out of, or the bathroom mirror where you comb your hair– can jog your memory.

Collaborate with a caregiver- a family member or paid caregiver involved in your daily care can help you remember to take your medications on time.

I missed a dose of my medication, now what?

If you have tried the above tips and tricks and discover that you’ve accidentally missed a dose of medication despite your best efforts, what should you do?

Don’t double up on doses- many medications are designed to release slowly. Never take more than the prescribed dose without talking to your doctor.

Check the medication information sheet- this is included in the packaging with your prescription from the pharmacy and often has instructions for managing missed doses.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor- if all else fails, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about the best way to handle a missed dose. Each medication is different, so it’s important to know the safest way to correct the mistake.

Extra effort with your medications can improve your quality of life

Once you hit your stride with healthy medication habits that work for you, there are many potential benefits to your overall well-being and quality of life. The right medication, taken as prescribed, can help reduce symptoms of chronic health conditions. You’re also less likely to end up in the hospital due to complications from untreated disease.

If you’ve tried one of the strategies discussed here and it didn’t work for you, keep in mind that habits take time to develop. Research shows that it can take as long as an average of 66 days for a new habit to form. 4 You may also find that one of the other strategies might be a better fit for your learning style.

For older adults with chronic health conditions that struggle with memory due to problems like dementia, it is critical that a family member or regular caregiver help with reminders to take medications as prescribed. This can include sorting medications into a pill keeper so one medication isn’t accidentally skipped in a confusing assortment of pill bottles. Or it can be prompting someone that it is time for a dose.

Finally, if you’d like some professional help with medication reminders, Caresify’s team of highly skilled caregivers provides this service along with many others that can help you maintain independence at home longer. You can read more here, or call 888-799-5007.

Providing personalized in-home care to seniors