Remember, medications are only beneficial when taken as prescribed. This article will assist you with keeping your medications organized or assist you with helping someone else keep his or her medications organized.

For people who must deal with taking long-term or high amounts of medications, this situation can be very stressful. It can be easy to miss a dose or even overdose. Managing your medication effectively can help reduce harmful errors and give you the peace of mind to concentrate on wellness.

1.    Make a list, check it twice. Create a spreadsheet or word document on your computer or, simply use note paper to list all of the medications you take

• the name
• dosage
• frequency
• side effects you experience
• allergies
• expiration date; and
• if or when the medication has stopped.

2.    Create a dosing schedule. Using the same tools, make a dosing chart for each medication, noting the amount and time each should be taken. Make copies of this list and always take it with you so that you can track your dosing no matter where you are.
3.    Organize your pills. Pick up one of these handy weekly pill organizers from a drug store. They can be very helpful. If you take many meds on a daily basis, you will need an organizer with seven or more compartments to organize each day’s doses. But be careful, once you put the meds in this compartment it may be hard to distinguish what they are so it may be helpful to have a physical description of each pill nearby
4.    Set a reminder. Budget permitting, there are handy electronic pill reminders out there. Or you can use your home alarm clock, wristwatch or cell phone alarm.
5.    Rest easy. With these easy steps for organizing your medications, you can be confident that you are following your doctor’s orders properly. Be diligent, be organized and be well.
TIP:
Even if you use a pill organizer, remember to check your prescription labels often. Check expiration dates and refill information. Knowing when you are running low or nearing an expiration date will allow you to call for a refill ahead of time and you will avoid missing a dose.
Things You Will Need:

• daily pill organizer
• spreadsheet or word processing program; if you do not have access to a computer, a weekly planner will be fine
• a list of all your medications and prescriptions (write these down or type the list)
• an alarm clock or wristwatch

• Price is important but choose your pharmacy – then compare costs.
• To find out if an online pharmacy has the products that you need full range of products, go to www.pharmacychecker.com
• When comparing costs at a foreign pharmacy, remember to consider the current exchange rate, shipping and handling charges, and any other fees that might apply.
• If you are a U.S. citizen and eligible for it, sign up for the Medicare Plan D program. Your first $2250 worth of prescription costs will be covered (after deducting premiums and co-pays). If you have reached the “doughnut hole” where your prescriptions aren’t covered by Plan D, consider buying from an online pharmacy.
• Drug prices can vary widely at pharmacies within the same country or city. Compare prices carefully.
• Countries with the lowest drug prices include India, Israel and Thailand. Prices in the UK, Western Europe and Canada tend to be slightly higher. And, the US, the only country that does not control drug prices, has the highest drug prices in the world.
• To save the most money, order generic drugs, not branded. Generic drugs have the exact same effective ingredient as branded drugs, but they are usually much cheaper because the customer is not paying for advertising and other costs associated with a brand name, like Lipitor. Also, just because a pharmacy in your country does not carry a generic doesn’t mean that a generic isn’t made. Different countries have different patent laws that allow generics to be marketed after certain waiting periods. Generics come to market slowly in the U.S., and much faster in countries such as India, the UK and Israel.
• In different countries, medications may have different names and appearances. For instance, Lipitor is the name for a branded cholesterol drug in the US and other countries, and its generic equivalent can be found under various names including “Aztor” and “Atorlip.”
• If you have questions about the medications you are ordering, the pharmacist at your Internet Pharmacy should be able to answer them for you. If he or she cannot answer them to your satisfaction, you may want to choose another pharmacy.
• Check your order as soon as you receive it to ensure everything is in order and the medications are in good condition. If there is a problem, contact the online pharmacy immediately.
• Some patients that take tablets find that “pill-splitting” or cutting a larger tablet in two, can be an effective way to lower drug costs. They do this by ordering a tablet twice the necessary size and splitting it. To be safe, get your doctor’s okay before doing this, and use a pill splitter than can be purchased at pharmacies, don’t break it by hand.

Warnings!

• In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration considers prescription medications purchased from foreign pharmacies to be illegal in most cases. However, U.S. Customs will not seize medications intended for personal use as long as there is a 90 days or less supply.
• Regulations state that drugs that have been dispensed cannot be returned to the pharmacy. This applies to both local pharmacies and Internet.
• Never pay a membership fee for the privilege of buying drugs from an online pharmacy. That is a rip-off