My memory is not what it was: tricks to remember your medication
Missing the odd dose is common and can be solved: with a few habits and the right system you can stop depending on your memory.
In short
- Missing the odd dose is very common: forgetting is one of the most frequent reasons people do not follow a treatment properly.
- What works best is combining a routine, reminders and a system that shows you at a glance whether you have taken each dose.
- If you are not sure whether you have already taken a tablet, do not take another ‘just in case’: check the leaflet or ask your pharmacist.
- If forgetfulness increases or affects your daily life, mention it to your doctor: other causes sometimes play a part, including the medication itself.
To avoid forgetting your medication, you do not need a good memory: you just need not to depend on it. Anchor each dose to a daily habit, use an alarm, prepare your doses in a pill organiser or a personalised dosage system (SPD) and let the system remind you of what your head does not need to remember.
We suggest concrete tricks, how to tell whether you have already taken a dose and when it is worth seeking advice about forgetfulness.
| What will you find in this article? |
Is it normal to miss the odd dose?
Yes, it is very common and does not mean you are doing something wrong. An article published in the Spanish journal Atención Primaria puts adherence to treatments for long-term conditions in developed countries at around 50%, and points to simple forgetfulness as one of the causes.
Forgetting is easier when you take several medicines at different times, when your routine changes (holidays, weekends, travel) or when a dose falls at a time when you are usually busy. Knowing this lets you fix the weak spots.
Which tricks work for remembering your medication?
The most effective ones are those that do not depend on remembering: external reminders, medication organisers and simplifying the regimen where possible. The same Atención Primaria article lists reminders, alarms and medication organisers among the strategies to improve adherence.
| Trick | How to use it | Helps you if |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor the dose to a habit | Breakfast, brushing your teeth, dinner | You have a steady routine |
| Phone alarm | An alarm named after the dose | Your days vary a lot |
| Weekly pill organiser or SPD | Doses separated by day and time | You take several medicines |
| Tick sheet | A tick for each dose taken | You doubt whether you have taken it |
| Simplify the regimen | Ask your doctor whether doses can be reduced | You have many doses a day |
Keep your medication somewhere visible in your routine, but suitable: MedlinePlus points out that the bathroom is usually a bad place because of the humidity. There are more ideas in how to link each dose to a daily habit and in alarms and apps so you do not forget your medication.
How can you tell whether you have already taken your tablet?
The most reliable way is for the dose to be separated in advance: if the compartment of the pill organiser or the SPD sachet for that time is empty, you have taken it. Without a system like that it is easy to doubt, especially with medicines you have taken daily for years.
- If in doubt, do not take another dose ‘just in case’: with some medicines taking the same dose twice can be dangerous.
- Ask your pharmacist what to do if you miss or are unsure about a dose of each medicine. The Spanish Ministry of Health's 5 Moments guide includes this among the basic questions.
- If it has happened, there is general guidance in what to do if you miss a dose.
When is forgetfulness worth seeing a doctor about?
If you notice that you forget things more and more often, that it started suddenly or that it affects other everyday tasks, mention it to your doctor. Memory loss can have treatable causes: MedlinePlus lists, among others, some medicines, depression and a lack of vitamins such as B1 or B12.
Take your medication list to the appointment and ask whether any of your medicines could play a part. Do not stop any on your own. If you also feel more tired or absent-minded since taking more tablets, read whether tiredness could be caused by your medication.
A practical example: Ramón and his evening dose
Take the case of Ramón, 69, retired and very active, who takes six medicines for diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. He never forgets his morning doses because they go with breakfast, but he misses the evening one once or twice a week, especially when he goes out for dinner.
Ramón decides to anchor the evening dose to brushing his teeth and sets an alarm for ten o'clock. He starts using a weekly pill organiser with morning and evening compartments, so he can see at a glance whether he has taken it. At his next check-up he asks his doctor whether any dose could be moved to the morning. Within a few weeks, he no longer has any doubts.
How can IMA Health help you?
With IMA Health, a specialised pharmacy prepares your medication in an SPD, with each dose separated by day and time. That way you can see at a glance whether you have taken your dose and you do not have to prepare anything yourself.
We also take care of coordination with the pharmacy, home delivery and personalised follow-up. To learn more about this format, read what an SPD is or find out about the IMA Health service.
Sources
- Dilla T. et al. Treatment adherence and persistence: causes, consequences and improvement strategies. Atención Primaria, 2009 (in Spanish)
- MedlinePlus: Memory loss (Spanish version)
- MedlinePlus: Storing your medicines (Spanish version)
- Spanish Ministry of Health: 5 Moments for Medication Safety (2022)
This article is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.