Uh...
I`m on the pill, and have issues trying to take it at the same time each day. My waking times have been different, and sometimes I just forget...
What has helped? I`m not even taking my ritalin on a regular basis lately.
I guess I should try to get the watchminder repaired huh?

Cheers.

When I was on the pill, I would keep it out on the bathroom counter where I could see it (and everyone else, but oh well!). Then there was no way I could forget. Even if you don't wake up at the same time every morning - at least you'll be taking it everyday - which is better than nothing!

-Diane

Yes I too cannot guarantee I will take my meds at the same time everyday....but they will be taken at SOME point.....

Slowpoke: Perhaps have a supply hidden in your car? That way if you forgot to take a med before leaving in the morning, you can run out to your car....

OR have somebody here from forums e-mail you daily with reminder to take your med.....

Yuh, the watchminder repair sounds good.....:)

I have the same problem with my ridalin, which I now keep at work, and my anxiety meds. I'm suppose to take my anxiety meds at 6pm. But I could be at work or home at that time and I always forget, remembering only when I go to bed, which the result is me being very sleepy in the morning.

set an alarm JUST FOR THAT. I mean a big one with numbers ... that plugs in with btteries to abck up. make sure it is a 24 hour one. Same time ever day. Dont turn it iff until AFTER you swallow! then turn it off and back to set in one montion.

For ritalin, I have them in several places... one in the bedside drawer unit that has my anxiety meds, with a bottle of water. I have the first dose set out right there so I don`t even have to be fully conscious when the alarm goes off in the morning. I take it and then go back to bed... and I wake up in about 45mins...no more permahangover feeling.

I also have a small `after coffee mints` tin in my purse that has ritalin in it... it looks really inconspicuous, so I don`t feel weird for taking out a medication bottle every class.

THanks for the idea for having the Pill in the bathroom! I wear contact lenses, so I can keep them right by the contact lens case... I always put them in. What a great idea!

I don`t care if people see that I`m on the Pill...I think it`s being responsible, and it`s better than NOT being on the pill.

I`m glad I have this forum to talk about stuff like this without being embarrassed.

I'm on meds for my ADD, Asthma, Allergies, and, of course, the pill.

(Whoa - just realized that all my diagnoses start with A!)

I keep them on my nightstand and take everything right before I go to bed. I still have trouble remember to take some of them in the morning and I can't, for the life of me, remember to take my methylphenidate in the middle of the day.

well, when I first started taking the pill I had a very erratic waking schedule due to a varying work schedule. Plus, I thought that if I slept in on weekends, I'd be taking it late every Saturday morning! ;) lol

So, I decided to have it right before dinner - around 5:00 every night. (Which only was a bad idea, because when I first started taking it - I was starting to date someone & didn't want him knowing I was taking it - I would feel nauseous & NOT hungry - what a great way to go on a dinner date - pretend everything is FINE & you feel great - ugh)

Over the years, I still take it between 4pm-6pm. Although lately, I've started forgetting (this month) - and remembered at 8 or 9 pm at night. twice I remembered the next morning. Not good. I wondered if I'm subconsciously forgetting on purpose - testing fate, you know? cause I'm getting envious of everyone else having babies but me! :) (also NOT a good plan, what with other meds I'm taking!)

I'm going to have to fine tune my system.

I just quit taking mine for awhile. So pressed for time that most days I just forget. I wish there was a patch or something that I could just slap on once aweek or so.. Would be nice.

there is actually a patch available that you keep on for a week. I think it`s called orthoestra or something like that.

I havn`t looked into it, but I am curious as to whether I could use it, since I am in the water twice a week. I`m not sure if I trust it though... it is a `sticker` type patch. There`s just something different about taking the actual pill dosage.

Check it out with your doctor though, you might be able to get it.

Hey all!
I just wanted to thank you for your suggestions!
I started a new pack of the BCP, and keep it by my contact lenses in the bathroom...
even if I don't put my contacts in right away, I usually need to go to the bathroom sometime before noon (put on makeup etc) so I HAVE NOT MISSED a dose yet! Sometimes I take it a little later than I should, but at least it's not 12 hours late like I used to take it...
So a big THANK YOU to everyone!
(^_^)

I took the pill between 17 and 20 (I started smoking so I stopped taking it, considering going back on again now that I stopped smoking again) and right from the start I bought myself a digital watch (Casio, but lady style in silver not one of them chunky things) and set it to the same time every day. I chose the time with much consideration as to where I would be at the time (preferably - at home, in case I forgot to pack the pills) :rolleyes:

I chose 6pm as I'd be back home by then even if I'd go shopping, I would not be on the tram/bus etc. where I'm likely to overhear the alarm and I should be awake at that time no matter what day of the week it is - this was because everyone had recommended me to take it after getting up as part of the morning routine, but I knew I'd forget and I wouldn't get up the same time every day anyway.

I still managed to fret about whether or not I'd taken it as I'd forget which number on the pack I'd taken last (especially when the alarm went off and I couldn't take the pill immediately). If I start taking it again I will have to get a pill box planner thing so I have to take the right weekday and can always reassure myself that I've taken it if I forget whether or not I've had today's pill yet.

yes, I use the patch. yes, I've gone swimming with it on. I've taken long soaks in the tub with it on.

The biggest problem? Remembering to keep track of what day to change the patch.

Advice for pill users: what is the one thing you remember to do every day?

Do you remember to brush your teeth every day? Then keep the toothpaste under your pills. Do you have Cheerios for breakfast every morning? Duct tape your pill pack to the cheerios box. Do you remember to put on underwear? Put the pill in your underwear drawer.

Then take the pill when you do the other thing. If your reminder action (like brushing your teeth) happens as 4 a.m. or 3 p.m., that's when you take your pill.

I've been using the patch for about a year now and I absolutely love it!

I tried it first because I get nauseous from just about any medication I ingest (that's another whole subject dealing with nausea side effects) and I wanted to try birth control I didn't have to swallow. With the patch, I have absolutely no side effects (tried the shot before, too and became a raging ***** on it) and no nausea - even if I forget and change it a day late or something like that.

As for remembering to change it once a week (and one week you don't use it), it's actually packaged with these nifty little stickers that say "first patch, second patch, etc." and you stick them on the patch wrapper and there are additional ones for your calendar. I keep a calendar on the refrigerator and when I pass by it, I can't miss the big "2" sticker on Sunday, and I change it right then.

It's called OrthoEvra - and it's actually cheaper than the pill.

Originally posted by magik416

I keep a calendar on the refrigerator and when I pass by it, I can't miss the big "2" sticker on Sunday, and I change it right then . . . . It's called OrthoEvra - and it's actually cheaper than the pill.
I must have some sort of sticker block . . like I don't want to admit that I would need them. But you're right :) I'll follow your lead next cycle!

I wish it were cheaper for me to use the patch. The pill I used was a $10/month co-pay. The patch is a "tier-3" under my plan and is $35/month!!! That may not be true for other health plans, but even if it is . . . that is still cheap for peace of mind! :cool:

I was always forgetting to take my pills ( and I have 2 sons to prove it! ) so my doc put me on the Depo shot. Now he calls me every 3 months to come in and get it. The shot is great, not only is there one less thing to remember to do every day, I don't have all the nasty monthly issues (cramps, pms, bloating, etc....)

Well, I don't take "The Pill", but I have to take meds 3X a day and remembering to take my pills has been a problem all my life.

I've tried the alarm watches, but they don't work well because I'll be washing dishes or taking a bath and I'll forget to put my watch back on...or I'll take it off for whatever reason (maybe before bed or while changing clothes) and misplace it. I'm not sure where my watch is right now, infact.

Here's what I do-- and it works well. I have alarm clocks put in certain areas around my house. Areas where I'll hear them go off. One in my bedroom and one near my computer that has 2 alarms on it. When the alarms go off, they tell me to take my pills. I might cheat and push the snooze if I'm in the middle of posting somthing but I'll take them 9 minutes later when it goes off again. (There's that procrastination in my showing it's evil head). ;)

It works well. I also use the kitchen buzzer to remind myself to do other little things. (e.g. I make a phone call to my doctor's office and they tell me to call back in 45 minutes). Now, there's no way that I'm going to remember this on my own-- w/o a reminder-- so I set my kitchen timer for 45 minutes. (It goes as high as 4 hours so it doesn't work for my meds, but it does for many many other things).

What's really frustrating is walking into my house and hearing the kitchen timer go off wondering what it was I had reminded myself of and what it was I forgot. Oh well. You can't win 'em all.

~Sandy