POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: woodshere on March 30, 2007, 12:38:54 pm
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Along the lines of milkers "checklist" thread I thought it would be nice to share tips to help with our adherence to meds. I was telling someone who has been on meds 15 plus years that I take mine at breakfast, but sometime am running late for work (ok, running late alot) and plan to eat at work and take meds then. However I forget to bring them or one time left two in the pill box. She suggested having a couple of extra doses at work. Now not only do I have them at work, but also in my satchel.
Any other tips?
Woods
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I set the alarm clock on my cell phone to ring at 8am/8pm to remind me to take my meds.
Christine
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I keep a dose at work and have a couple in my laptop case. If I'm going out, I take my PM dose a little early and make sure I have my AM dose just in case I don't make it home. It's all about planning. And... if you're on Ritonavir, you have to remember to rotate the old ones out of the spare doses after 30 days so they don't go bad.
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... if you're on Ritonavir, you have to remember to rotate the old ones out of the spare doses after 30 days so they don't go bad.
great idea
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I keep an extra dose or two tucked away in the car. Also in pockets in jackets and stuff during the cooler months. In case I get separated from home longer than expected. Don't really have any problems with forgetting anymore...it's built into my daily routine like brushing my teeth and stuff.
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i carry the small 99 cent anti-bacterial soap in my bag and before I eat if I cant get to a near sink to wash my hands i use the antibacterial soap. I ride subways and shake alot of hands so I try to be careful not to eat without washing hands. i know it has nothing to do with taking meds and adhering to them but sometimes we forget that our hands are real dirty and we touch our pills with our hands.
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In the morning, I take my meds right after breakfast, so that's no problem. In the evening however, I'm usually busier and/or not at home. Just like Christine, I set the vibrational alarm of my cell phone to remind me. I also have the meds for a full day in a pill box which fits into the case of my car keys.
A few weeks ago, I was looking for a wrist watch with a vibrational alarm function but with no avail. I'm surprised none of the watch manufacturers came up with this idea... ::)
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A few weeks ago, I was looking for a wrist watch with a vibrational alarm function but with no avail. I'm surprised none of the watch manufacturers came up with this idea...
First off Cerrid, there is a watch that can be purchased at either Walmart or any place like it, that not only has a rooster for an alarm, but also speaks the hour when you have set it to go off. This works for me sometimes.
Other than that, I have several things which I use to keep adherant, and my record shows they mostly work. My adherance is between 99 and 100%, and I owe that to my habits I have created.
Beside where I eat at home, I have plates which I buy at art fairs and other places as I wander the world. Below are some of them. They are not cheap, but neither am I. When I get to the end of the meal, if the pills are still in the plate, I didn't take them; if the plate is empty, I took them. Before every meal, I take my meds out of a daily tray that I fill on Sunday morning. This way, I keep track of the pills in the box and can see if I didn't place them in the plate before the meal. When I go out for breakfast or dinner, I always take my meds with me in a small Altoids box or other individual boxes which I have collected along the way. These consious decisions have been the help I needed to remember, when my mind isn't particularly adept at keeping up.
Love,
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Mine need to be taken with food twice a day so it's easy to remember – once with breakfast and once with supper. If I'm out for either meal, I just take them with me.
Daniel
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Some more stylish, some not so stylish, but here's a clutch of links:
http://www.epill.com/
http://www.forgettingthepill.com/
http://www.tabtime.com/
http://www.sunshineproductsusa.com/shop/home.php?cat=2
http://www.medicalarm.co.uk/
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I have some of those drug company pill boxes w/ separate containers for Morning and Night doses. Then they are split into seven days. If any dose is missed, it is still in the box.
The next step is, "why did I miss that dose?" and "what can I do to remember next time?" Have the best day
Michael
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I set the alarm clock on my cell phone to ring at 8am/8pm to remind me to take my meds.
Christine
This is a great way, I do this too.
rob
My doctor suggested taking all the imodium pills in one dose. I thought she was nuts because at one point I was taking 16 of them, but it really worked for me. I take all of my pills at night in one dose, the dapsone, the sustiva, the ativan, and the imodium. This has helped with the diarrhea problems a lot. I now rarely have to run for the toilet.
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William sets em out every night with a new "note" along with cereal and milk.... Cant get to the bedroom without tripping over them... He is so good to me....
Eric
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I use the cellphone technique, and store my pills in screw top, stacking cases that are meant for makeup whilst travelling. They're circular, about 3" in diameter and stack on top of each other so you can do loads in advance,but just take what you need with you. (think they're meant for lipstck, you can get them from superdrug in Uk)
My mum also bought me a clock, from US, which records, so I've got her voice, using my full name,(scarey),reminding me. its great, you don't need to be specific, and can ask friends and family to recrord messages each of which which will play randomly, at the same time up to six different schedules, each day...makes you feel loved too ;)
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Read about this new development somewhere on the net and - although it seems quite complicated - I thought it might be an idea for those that really have trouble with adherence:
http://www.simpill.com/p-smd-main.htm
http://www.simpilldirect.com/
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I bought one of those keychains I can keep a couple days supply in. I leave it in the car generally.
And every evening I put them out so I don't forget em. If I have company or a date I put something else out of place so I see whatever item and remember to take them.
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I take mine at about 6 AM every morning. It has become so automatic that I wake up within 15 minutes of 6 AM without exception. I put them in a Sun - Sat Pill box so if I ever wonder if I've taken them, all I have to do is look. In just over a year, I have not missed a single dose. I have to take one of mine 2 hours after eating or 1 hour before earting. So this is about the only time of day that works without exception. I take my meds, go back to bed for an hour, then I'm ready to get up, get my day started and have breakfast and off to work. It has become so automatic though that I have to have the pill box or I'd always be wondering if I took them. If I'm traveling, I just toss the pill box in my backpack and I'm ready to go.
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Since the last change in 2003, I take my Trizivir, Tricor, Atenanol, Xanax between 5am and 6 - when Nico wakes me up. Then for b-fast it is Norvir/Reyataz plus B-vits and Centrum. To round out the day....another dose of Trizivir and Xanax and if needed a pain med for my PN.
If I am traveling, I take the middle dose after I land and have "facilities" available.... :o
That's my life!
Rog
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Hello,
I take my meds at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. At 8:00 Am, I take one Viramune, and one Epzicom. At 8:00 PM, I take the other Viramune, and the Viread.
Adherence, was not that much of an issue with me in the beginning. I had no problem taking the meds on time, and not missing ( or skipping doses).
I take my meds, right out of the bottle. I tried the pill boxes, and they are alright, if I am going away.But, for me taking them from the bottle works.
There have been times, when I think that I have missed taking a dose, and for a while there ( when this would happen) I would count the meds that were remaining in the bottle. If the number of pills was even or odd ( depending on the time ), I would be able to tell if I had missed a dose or not. Well, this was driving me nuts !!
Now, I have a calendar,( by my meds) And I will write on each day, AM dose taken, and then PM dose taken. I will write this on the calendar the MINUTE I take the meds. I find this helpful.
The reason I do this, is for the past several months, I would take the meds, and forget an hour later, whether I had taken them or not. So, this works for me.
Friday Afternoon, I screwed up !! I went to lay down, I woke up at 8:00 PM . I looked at the clock, and thought it was 8:00 AM. :P I took the another AM dose,( viramune and Epzicom) instead of the PM dose which is Viramune and Viread. so for the next day I had a little too much Epzicom in me. I realised I had done this, right after I walked downstairs. Ed, looked at me, and said you look confused. I said "why is it so dark outside, for 8:00 in the morning?" He replied it's "8:00 at night" (damn fog !!) It was then, that I realised I had taken the wrong meds . :P :P
Because of that screw-up , I switched Saturday morning to ...( 8:00 AM viramune and viread) and the 8:00 PM dose is now one viramune and Epzicom. I just reversed the time I take the Viread and the Epzicom.
Hope this makes sense. It makes sense to me, while I am typing it !!
Just to sum it up. remembering the meds is not difficult. Forgetting, an hour or two later ( and then going into panic mode) whether I had taken them or not is another thing. This is why I write it down immediately after I take the meds !!... Plus Ed helps, he ask me at times if I had taken my meds.
PS, I am NOT enjoying this forgetfulness/ fogginess thing at all.
Ray
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I used to forget my meds all the time--it is a miracle that I can still take the same regimine since statistically I should have developed a resistance. Anyhow, I keep my dose by my toothbrush. Since I never not brush my teeth, I see the dose there, swig water, down the pills, and brush my teeth. That has been what has worked for me. I used to keep extra doses in various places, but inevitably a case would find its way buried in the back seat of the car or in the pocket of a shirt and run through the washer. The toothbrush thing works like a charm.
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I also use one of those plastic day by day pill boxes. In over a year I missed one tablet. Somehow it stuck in the box. Now I check twice to make sure I have taken them all. I keep all the meds in a small locking box so it can be grabbed quickly in case of an emergency evacuation or such. I also keep one Atripla tablet in a keychain pill holder. When I prepare my meds for the week I make sure I change the tablet in the keychain lest it should get too old.
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I thought I'd post this here as well.
One friend wrote about this pharmacy called "Mom's pharmacy"
Apparently, they will prepackage your meds and even send you a pager!
Here is a link for more info:
http://mikeysantacruz.blogspot.com/2006/03/moms-pharmacy.html
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I bought one of those keychains I can keep a couple days supply in. I leave it in the car generally.
I'd suggest you avoid leaving your meds in your car during the hot summers here in Austin.
That said, the three things I concentrate on most is:
- Reminding myself to take my meds at the right time.
- Remembering that I actually took my meds.
- Having meds with me when I need to take them.
For the first issues, I have wristwatch with an alarm that beeps when it is time for
my meds. Cell phones are probably more ubiquitous than a watch these days, so
that's a good choice too. I guess "wristwatch" does sound kinda old school.
To remember that I actually did (or did not) take my meds, I too use one of those
plastic pill boxes, with a compartment for each day of the week. It's helpful as
another indicator of whether I took my meds or not. Without it, I could take my
meds, and then 5 minutes later wonder if I took them or not. Also, it is very
easy to get used to (or ignore) the alarm on my watch, so the weekly pill box
is a visual indicator.
Lastly, I keep a couple of extra doses of meds in those "single serving" plastic pill
boxes, which I stash in my backpack. That way I have access to meds, even if I'm
not home at the usual time I take them.
Henry
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I have taken my pills religiously at the time I started. It gets difficult if u have to travel accross different time zones.
I always set 2 alarms whenever I take my meds just to not forget. One on my mobile phone and another loud alrm that is set to it's highest setting. For the visual reminder, I have those daily plastic pill boxes that I refill. I only have 3 instead of a full weeks supply. I have the other pillboxes stashed somewhere, but I only need 3. I fill them w/ my Atripula on the evening half and my other insignificant GNC pills on the other.
I carry my those pillboxes everywhere I go cuz u wud never know if u get "stuck" somewhere. At bedtime or close to it, I set my alarms and leave my pillbox w/ my Atripula near my bedside. I never forget to take my pill, but at times I do forget whether I took my pill or not. It's obvious that the pillbox is empty, but I forget so I have to check all over where it went.
I guess cuz I take it so religiously, it has become a habit. A habit which I wud rather not have, if I never got infected in the 1st place.
Rob
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If you're not much of an agua drinker like me, don't suddenly change your lifestyle to down a glass with each dosing. I started to develop an aversion to taking my meds because of this. Now I usually drink something like juice or even tea with it and i find that it helps me in that I no longer have that aversion to taking them. I get enough water other ways anyhow. :)
In short, try not to radically change your lifestyle. Instead, casually adapt. :)
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In August it will be 2 years since I started meds and thankfully I have not missed yet. The first few months were tough, as I had to get used to leaving the house and making siure that I had my meds with me if I was going to be out at 7:00PM. I had a few situations where I had started driving somewhere and rememberd, so had to go back home. I used to do the cell phone thing, but now its so ingrained that my mental alram works. I used the weekly pill-box and it helps. I guess what I am saying is that there are all kinds of ways to remind yourself, but be careful of getting to depend on them. The best reminder is your own.
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I carry two doses in my purse in a rolaids keeper for those little rolls. I also have the fiance on my ass about times. He calls me at 11 everyday to make sure that I took my meds and then at 11 before bed he usually rounds up my 9 evening pills.
I have only missed a dose by a couple of hours twice. Once when we both fell asleep at night and once when we were travelling and he thought I took them.
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What works for me is this .... remember to take meds or end up back in the hospital with PCP, MAC and Thrush. I have never missed a dose.
SD (who can be a bit flakey at times but never about his meds)
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Mine are easy to remember. I take them at 7 a.m., 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., after fasting for two hours before taking them.
So, I just remember not to eat between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and midnight.
I have a wristwatch with an alarm that goes off at 3 p.m. because that is the one I am most likely to forget.
I now also have an alarm clock in the living room that goes off at 11 p.m. because I have a habit of dozing off while in the recliner.
Once you get in the habit, it really isn't that difficult.
HUGS,
Mark
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To everyone: While you're sitting reading & writing posts, laughing & learning, remember this site is called
AIDS MEDS
:D
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My dosage is simple, three pills once a day at bedtime. It's always a bedtime ritual of sorts. Brush my teeth, fill my water bottle with filtered water, take meds, crawl into bed and sleep..