Make sure you are organized with your medication: know what you take, when you take it and what it is for. Check if it needs to be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Check if it is safe to take with any supplements or medicines you buy over the counter.
Write your daily routine for medicines on a calendar or chart. Be sure to update the schedule each time your medicine changes. It is best to keep a list in a safe place at home, and a copy in your wallet, handbag or phone.
Pharmacists can provide help with this (either at the pharmacy or at the surgery)
- Make sure you return medicines you are no longer taking to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
- Medication reminders – you could set alarms on your phone to remind you when to take or re-order your medication.
The NHS has an app called Echo that can be downloaded and programmed to remind you about taking medication.
You could put a reminder note on your fridge or bedside table.
Often combining taking medication at the same time as a part of your daily routine - like brushing your teeth, serves as a memory aid.
- Ordering -make sure you have a system for ordering medication in time. This could be online or by handing in a paper request to the surgery. Make sure you try to order at least 2 weeks before your medication runs out. Ask for extra if you know you will be going away. Repeat prescriptions can be ordered as a batch where regular monthly issues are sent automatically for dispensing. These are usually designed to stop when your medication review is due. Please ask the surgery pharmacy team about this.
- If you need help ordering your monthly prescriptions a relative or friend can do this for you online. They would need to apply for “Proxy” Online Access to your medical record for the purposes of ordering repeat prescriptions. They do not need to live in the area or be registered as a patient here.
Make sure you have a regular medication review
Practical tips if you care for someone