The UK has been in a state of ‘lockdown’ for over 3 months and although the rules we’re living by are changing regularly, it could be some time before things return to normal. In the meantime, it’s important we continue to make sure we’re taking our medication properly.
Finding new ways to remember how to take your medicine
Routine is important when it comes to helping people remember to take their medicine. It becomes part of our daily lives, such as taking our medicine with breakfast or when we get home from work. With the majority of the UK now working remotely and the most vulnerable having not left their homes in months, the disruption to our daily routines can make taking your medicine more difficult.
Here are some tips to make sure your medication regime isn’t impacted in these unusual circumstances:
- If you’re working from home, establish a daily routine during the weekdays. Set an alarm and be at your computer for a consistent time each day.
- If you usually take your medicine with a cup of tea, you could leave them next to the kettle as a visual reminder.
- Use a calendar. Keep it in a visible location, and make a mark on it every day when you’ve taken your medicines.
- For those with a repeat prescription, keep track on how much medicine you have left so you don’t run out. Regularly check your cupboards and make sure you know how many days supply you have left so you can be sure to order a top-up in good time. If you’re a Pharmacy2U patient, we’ll remind you when it’s time to re-order to help you with this, ensuring there’s no gap in treatment.
Get reminders on your phone
We’ve created a Pharmacy2U experience with our partners at Wysa, a friendly health and wellbeing app that will remind you to take your medication as often as you need. All you need to do is download the Wysa app and say “yes” to medication reminders in the sign up process. You can use the medicine icon in your Wysa account to set up the reminders at the right times of day.
The easiest way to get your medicine
If you have an ongoing health condition then Pharmacy2U can help you manage your NHS repeat prescriptions with our free service. Our UK-based pharmacists will work with your GP to ensure that your medicine is sent when it’s needed to an address of your choice and are always on hand to give any medication advice.
It’s good for you and the NHS too
It’s important to remember that not only is taking your medication as prescribed important for you, it’s also good for the NHS too.
When people don’t take their medicine in the right way, it’s estimated to cost the NHS around £300 million each year. It’s also widely accepted as the main reason why a course of treatment could fail. So, by helping yourself, you’re also doing your bit to help the NHS.
If you have any questions regarding your medication and how it should be taken, speak to your GP or one of our pharmacists, who’ll be happy to help.
For more information on how to take your medication visit our “advice from the experts” page.
