Organize a System for Taking Your Medications
A good system is one that helps you see the following at a glance.
- What to take
- When to take it
- How to take it
- Whether or not you have taken it
System 1: Medicines I take Chart
| Medicines I Take | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Drug and what it is for | Color / Shape | Directions and Cautions | Times |
System 2: Weekly Directions and Check Off Chart - this chart is handy for keeping track of when you should take your medicines and for checking them off after you have taken them. Each time that you take the medicine, simply cross out that time.
| Weekly Check Off Chart | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Drug / Directions | Sun | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat |
| Sample Drug - 3 times a day | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 | 8 12 5 |
System 3: Color Coding - This system is used in combination with system 1 or 2. If you have trouble reading the prescription containers, you can color code both the chart you use and your medicine bottles. You will need either colored stickers/labels or colored markers.
First, fill in the chart for all medicines being taken.
Then, put a different color on the label of each bottle. Be sure you can see the color clearly.
Next, for each medicine, put a color mark by its name on the chart that matches the color you put on the label.
Two precautions with this color-coded system: 1) When you refill a prescription be sure to give the new bottle its proper color code. 2)The colors you use should be clearly different from each other. For example, it might be hard to distinguish black from dark blue or red from orange.
System 4: The Daily or Weekly Container
The Daily Container works best if you only take a few pills per day and if it is easy to tell the difference (in shapes and colors) between them. If you take several pills several times a day you might want to have a container that has different times of the day on it.
The Weekly Container can assist you in organizing your medicines for different times of the day for every day of the week. If you decide on this system, contact us for a container and basic assistance.
Caution on using any container system: If you have children in your home, you should be wary of using a container system since it requires leaving medicines out in the open. Also, make sure medicines can be kept at room temperature without losing their strength.
Any system that fits your needs can be helpful, if it helps you maintain a routine. However, a system is beneficial if only used carefully. The time you spend creating and following through on the system will pay off, not only in time and anxiety saved, but also in helping you take medicines properly.
Source: The Office of Substance Abuse Prevention revised booklet developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Using Your Medicines Wisely: A Guide for the Elderly."