subject: How To Organize Your Medications, Prescriptions, Vitamins and More [print this page] How To Organize Your Medications, Prescriptions, Vitamins and More
Medicine cabinets can be become very messy very quickly resulting in frustration when trying to find what you need. To organize your medicine cabinet start by emptying the entire cabinet and spreading them out so you can get a good look at what you have. Pull out all expired items and those you no longer intend to use and get rid of them immediately. Organize the rest into categories such as cold medications, pain relievers, antacids, vitamins and more and place them into baskets or small containers that will be easy to grab in a hurry. To help you find the correct prescription quickly each day, mark all prescriptions, (using permanent marker or small stickers on the cap) with the purpose of the prescription (pain, cholesterol, allergies, etc.).
If your family members each have a lot of prescriptions, medications and vitamins set aside just for them, choose a small container or basket for each individual to store their items in.
For those who have trouble remembering to take their pills, weekly and daily dispensers are a great idea. If a dispenser is not desired, try using a calendar to mark each day that you have taken your medication. A simple check mark will do each time you take your medication, then if you have forgotten whether you have taken it or not, all you have to do is look at the calendar to see if that day was marked.
If you have to take a certain medication every few hours, keep a written schedule of the times you have taken each dosage and when the next dosage will be due. Set a timer if necessary. There are several gadgets on the market now that help remind you when to take your medication. You can also simply set the alarm on your cell phone or watch as a reminder.
When going to a doctor's appointment make sure to bring a list of all prescription medications, vitamins and supplements you are currently taking, what the dosage amount is and how often you take each item. Write down all side effects and reactions you experience with each medication as well. And always remember to store your medications in a safe place, out of the reach of small children.
