Remembering to Take Your Medicine

These instructions are for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients who need to take medicine at home.

First work with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to see if there is any way to simplify your medicine regimen.

Instructions for remembering to take your medicine:

Pair taking your medicine with something you always do or like to do. This is called habit stacking. Try taking your medicine:

• Before you brush your teeth.

• At mealtimes.

• When you wake up.

• At the same time daily (8 a.m. or 8 p.m. or another time that works for you).

Try one of these phone applications

• A reminder application on your phone

• Calendar application

• Medisafe

• Electronic medicine schedules online

Use electronic reminders

• Use an alarm clock.

• Use a digital watch with an alarm. You can set the alarm to ring when it is time to take your medicines.

Use visual reminders

• Use sticky notes and post them in places where you will see them (the mirror, wall next to your bed, the refrigerator door).

• Make a medicine schedule or calendar for your refrigerator.

• Ask the nursing staff to help you create a template. You may also request a copy of your MedAction Plan from the nursing staff.

• Use a sticker chart or rewards system for taking medicine.

• Use a medicine checklist or sticker chart. Checking things off can be rewarding. It can help you track how often you miss your doses.

• Make sure you leave your medicines in a place where you can see them.

• Consider flipping your pill bottle over once you take the medicine.

Pill box options

• Alarming pill box

• Alarming pill bottle (great for remembering one medicine)

• Travel pill box

• Secretive pill box that looks like a purse or bag

• Keychain pill container

• Clear pill container

• Weekly pill box

• Monthly pill box

• Bulk pill box. You may choose to put your pills into one container as long as each compartment is labeled with the appropriate medicine name, dose, and expiration date. You can make a smaller container of medicines for travel and always leave it in your travel bag.

Request help!

• Talk to other patients about their experiences. Ask what has worked and not worked for them. Consider exploring the websites with information about your child’s diagnosis for support groups and additional resources.

• Ask a friend or family member to help remind you.

Traveling with medicines

• Keep a couple of extra doses in your purse/or bag in case you miss a morning dose.

• Plan ahead to ensure you have enough medicine.

• Print out a medicine schedule to take with you.

• Never check a bag containing medicines.

• Medicine must be in its original container with a label for air travel.

• If you are traveling with an injectable medicine, it may need to be kept cold in a lunch box or other cooler.

• Contact our healthcare team if you require a note that states that you will be traveling with medicine.

• Most airlines do not require documentation to travel with medicines. Check your airline's website for required information prior to making this request to your team.

• Keep extra “as needed” medicine doses in your travel bags so you do not have to pack it each time you travel.

Tips for refilling your medicine:

• Ask for a 90-day supply when possible. Your child will likely be prescribed a 30-day supply or 90-day supply of medicine.

• Check your prescription label to decide how many refills you have left. Be sure to request a new prescription once you have no refills left. Do this at the time you pick up your last refill to prevent any delays in treatment.

• Be sure to let the medical team know which pharmacy you will use to fill your prescriptions.

• Try to refill a prescription at least 5 days prior to running out.

• Your doctor may request that you schedule an appointment.

• You may be able to set up automatic refills to be sent to your home by your specialty pharmacy. Many specialty pharmacies will still require a phone call to confirm the shipping address for the medicine prior to sending out the delivery.

• Pick up your prescriptions together so you can avoid multiple trips to the pharmacy.

• Write down the extension numbers you need to “speak with a pharmacist” so you do not have to listen to the menu each time.

• Request pre-packaged doses from the pharmacy or utilize a service like Pillpack or MedMinder.

• Use your pharmacy’s application or website to request refills or shipments of medicines.

Know what to do if you miss a dose of your medicine.

If you are not sure, please contact your healthcare provider’s office via MyCHOP or by phone (215) 590-2547.

Reviewed November 2023 by Kerry Spichiger, DNP, CRNP; Melissa A. Lerman, MD, PhD, MSCE, Dori Abel, MD