Complex medication regimes are hard to keep track of. Organising pills and ensuring you take them on time can be a demanding task. This becomes even more overwhelming if you are looking after the medication of someone other than yourself.
A medication dispenser is a tool you can use to help alleviate the worries of medication tracking. It can make scheduling doses more efficient while reducing the risk of error. There are many different medication dispenser options on the market. To decide what kind is best for you, it is important to first understand the distinct types available.
Types of Medication Dispenser
Keep it simple when you search for a medication dispenser. Your specific regimen should influence which choice is best for you.
7-Day Pillbox
If your medication plan involves taking pills once or twice a day, a 7-day plastic pillbox should be ideal.
With these pillboxes, each section of the box is labelled with a day of the week. This allows you to plainly see if you have already taken the day’s pills or not. These types of pillboxes can range from weekly to monthly and are available in a range of designs.
If you have medication you need to take twice a day, you can find a split-day design. These have a morning and an evening section for each day that makes it easier to keep your medication in order.
Timed Dispensers
If forgetting to take medicine is a significant risk factor, another option is a timed medication dispenser.
These are an upgrade to standard pillboxes. They have a built-in timer that beeps to remind you to take your medication. Like the simpler versions, there are numerous types to choose from. Some are stationary and big; others are compact and fit in your pocket.
Using a timed dispenser can be useful if you take medication several times a day.
On top of this, there are secure versions available that stay locked until the programmed time. These are important if your medication poses a significant risk of accidental overdose.
Automatic Dispensers
If you take many pills throughout the day, you may require a more advanced type of dispenser.
Automatic dispensers are usually circular and have many different spaces for pills. They have a lid with a single hole in it. As the dispenser automatically rotates throughout the day, the hole lines up with the next dose. When this happens, an alarm sounds to remind you to take your medicine. When you tilt the device, you release the correct dosage. The automatic dispenser then starts rotating again.
Smart Dispensers
The goal of smart technology is to simplify complicated tasks. A smart medication dispenser is designed to do the same thing, but with medicine.
You can program it to automatically dispense the correct dosage for you at the time you need it. Furthermore, you can secure the medication in the device so others cannot easily access it. A smart medication dispenser sends digital reminders to you and your selected contacts, using a phone app. You can also program them to send notifications if you miss a dose.
Some smart medication dispensers use facial recognition or fingerprint scanning to ensure they give medication to the correct person at the correct time. These models are usually designed for shared care facilities, however.
What Are the Alternatives?
Medication reminder apps for smartphones can be an excellent alternative if a smart medication dispenser is not feasible for you.
If you often have your smartphone to hand, there are a wide selection of apps that may benefit you. With features similar to smart medication dispensers, these apps are usually inexpensive or free. While each app functions differently, most will remind you when to take your medication and keep track of when your last dose was.
The two top-rated apps of this kind are:
Medisafe Pill & Med Reminder
Trusted by physicians and pharmacists, Medisafe is a well-respected app used by millions of people. It is easy to create daily reminders and you can use it to send reminders to selected contacts. The app also includes health tracking features and refill reminders.
It is free on the Google Play and Apple app stores with an optional subscription available if you require access to more features.
MyTherapy
Another praised app for medication reminders and tracking is MyTherapy: a free app that aims to do more than just keep track of your medication. MyTherapy helps you track your overall health and mood, creating an easily accessible diary of your well-being. It has a simple interface that makes it easy to create multiple medication reminders.
MyTherapy also allows you to compile your medication and health information into a document that you can share easily with your doctor.
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Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 23rd April 2024 to reflect current information.
