How Can I Help Myself Remember to Take my Vitamins and Medications?
Taking your supplements and medications consistently is important but can be challenging.
We have put together some helpful tips to make it easier.
- Use 2 Pill Boxes. Pick up TWO 7-day pill containers for morning vitamins and evening/night-time vitamins. Make sure they are see through. This is the best and easiest strategy to get you set for taking them all week long. This simple piece of plastic can make all the difference. You can find jumbo boxes at Bed Bath & Beyond, Walgreens, Bloomington Drug, etc. Fill them up with your pills every Sunday.
- Location! Create a routine place to keep your vitamins where you already have a daily routine. Whether it is brushing your teeth, making coffee or at your table if you eat breakfast and dinner there each day. Store your daily vitamins in a place where you will see them. A great place is next to the sink in the bathroom where you get ready in the morning and for bed. Out-Of-Sight = Out-Of-Mind.
- Educate Yourself. Knowing why you are taking the particular vitamin, mineral or other supplement is a key component to staying motivated to keep taking them. Also knowing when to take them (on an empty stomach, with food, with vitamin C, etc.) will greatly impact their effectiveness.
- Buddy System – Taking your supplements with someone else can keep you accountable. One spouse is usually more compliant or knowledgeable than the other and can help out.
- Set an Alarm. Set your phone, alarm clock, watch or computer to go off to remind you it is time to take your vitamins.
- Streamline Your Vitamins – Maybe you are taking too many vitamins. Talk to Dr. Sinda or your doctor to see if you can eliminate some of the vitamins you take.
- Timing. If you have to take pills on an empty stomach in the morning (such as thyroid) keep them at bedside with a glass of water. Set alarm 30 minutes before it is time to wake up, take it and hit snooze. If you are really motivated, take your pill and get up and start your day with a short 15 to 20 minute workout or take them when you first get up then take a shower and get ready before eating breakfast.
Compliance is very important. If you find out you are not good at taking your vitamins, medications or bio-identical hormones at a certain time of the day or are having trouble with compliance, contact us.
We may be able to come up with suggestions or an alternative for you.
Next time you are in to see Dr. Sinda, bring a list of what supplements / vitamins you are taking, the doses and times of day you take them and he will review it with you.
If you have a Compliance Tip that works well for you, share it with us on Facebook.