Reddit mentions: The best pill dispensers & reminders

From a bipolarbear to a loved one of a bipolarbear, if your nephew isn't in a place to say it himself: thank you. We have a way of alienating the people who care for us the most and a lot of us end up alone, ashamed of things we've said and done in the past with nowhere to go. The fact that you're willing to take him in is huge.

Now, part of what makes this decision huge is that it's probably not going to be a cakewalk. I think it's fine to require that he be compliant with treatment, but it's going to require some finessing on your end to make sure that things outside of his control don't get in the way of his compliance. Mental illness is tricky because it often operates on its own logic, and things that seem very simple or straightforward to you are quite complicated for someone whose decision-making capabilities are jeopardized by their brain chemistry.

Early on, "support" might mean that he needs help in his treatment compliance. Things like help scheduling and making appointments on time, picking up meds from the pharmacy, dosing them out into a daily meds organizer like this, reminders or help setting up a reminder system for taking meds, or perhaps even going with him to talk to his doctors about medication options that don't need to be taken daily, like monthly antipsychotic shots (yep, they can shoot you up with your meds so you don't have to remember taking them -- there are a lot of positives and negatives to this, so be open-minded).

When the mentally ill turn to substances as self-medication, consider this behavior as the desperation it is, rather than the disregard for others families tend to see it as. Substance addiction is tricky and really, really hard to kick, even with professional help. If your nephew is dealing with alcoholism, he has a long, uphill battle ahead of him and he's going to need your support and understanding more than ultimatums. Now, yes, it's your house, your rules, and your family's safety and sanity takes precedence, but when it comes to his substance use I urge you to measure any actions you take against the context of "Is this leading to positive results, or negative results?"

Let go of "should be" and "could be" when it comes to substance use. The things that drive people into substances have their own logic (which is why addiction ruins lives like it does), so tread softly. You're doing an incredibly generous, kind thing for your nephew that's going to require a lot of patience.

In that same vein, be proactive about recruiting outside help. Will he be in an outpatient group? Dual-diagnosis therapy (treatment designed to reach those who struggle both with mental illness and substance use)? Given the damage done to society by untreated mental illness and substance abuse, most regions have public health services and pro bono private services available. Get a support structure in place before your nephew even arrives so the pressure isn't all on you. If you do get to a point where he can't be in your home anymore, it will be easier for everyone involved if you've had a shit-hits-the-fan plan set up from the beginning.

Guns: Yep, off-site storage. You sound like you've got a good head on your shoulders and are a responsible firearms owner. It's an inconvenience, but follow your gut here and ensure that your nephew will have no opportunity to harm himself or anyone else with your pieces. The statistics on guns, the mentally ill, and avoidable accidents/suicides/tragedies just go to show that the two don't mix. When we're stable, being treated, and have spot-on crisis plans in place, even then gun ownership is dicey, but possible. But only after a great deal of time stable and a commitment to a solid treatment plan.

Finally, the thing that's going to help your loved one the most is knowing that you're there for him, you're doing to do everything you can to help him (especially when he has days or strings of days when his illness robs him of his ability to be the best version of himself), and that his illness isn't the most important thing about him. I encourage you to bond with him over common interests and help him relax and feel like part of the family (he might be struggling with feeling like an intruder, or waiting for the other shoe to drop and get kicked out). Make sure you recognize any steps he takes in a positive direction, and sympathize with him when he screws up, because bipolar is all about screwing up.

/r/bipolar is also an excellent place to get advice and feedback for anything that comes up, or to just shoot the shit and joke around when you need to, so stick around. We've got your back. Introduce your nephew, even? We're a bunch of weirdos but there's good people here. You're doing a good thing, so don't forget that. I wish you all the best.

Your list is good, however there's a few things you're likely to run into.

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TL;DR: of what’s ahead

You only have so much willpower to expend in any given day, you probably can't pursue everything at once. To maximize your goal fulfillment, remember the following:

1. Cut unnecessary drains out of your life.
   
2. Figure out which goals are most important. You don’t have to pursue them all at once
   
3. Figure out which goals (once reached) will make the others easier.
   
4. Look for smart investments that will make your goals easier to fulfill (ie cost less willpower)
   
   ----------
   
   In a nutshell, humans have a finite amount of willpower that we can expend in one day. There are only so many conscious decisions that you can make in one 24-hour period, only so many things you can force yourself to do.
   
   And that’s fine, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We’re all human, that’s how we are.
   
   Think of as being like money, where you only have a finite supply at any given time. If you suddenly start expending more on one part of your life, one of two things will happen:
   
   
5. You'll eventually peter out. You're spending extra willpower (or money) that you don't really have, and you can only do that for so long before you go back to doing what you were before. OR
   
6. You'll keep at it, but you'll find yourself dropping the ball elsewhere...you have enough willpower (or money) to go after your new pursuits, but not enough to also keep at it with your old ones.
   
   So you might take on new fitness goals but find yourself dropping the ball on your diet goals, similar to how you might start making payments on a car only to find yourself unable to pay the electric bill. Make sense?
   
   That's the bad news. The good news is, there's a few strategies that you can use to stretch your willpower a lot further, adapted from the financial advice world.
   
   ------------
   
   1. "If you're in a hole, stop digging."
   
   In other words, be prepared to make significant lifestyle changes.
   
   For example, suppose you're using all your willpower just to get through the day without punching your boss in the face. Guess what, you need a different job ASAP...as long as you stay there, you will be so sapped of willpower/energy that you'll never accomplish your other goals.
   
   Make sense? Look for the unnecessary willpower drains that you can cut out of your life. Your friends, your church, your job, your girlfriend. All are fair game, if they're only sapping your strength.
   
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   2. Some goals are more important right now than others. There is nothing wrong with choosing to focus on a few and letting the others go for now.
   
   Financial example: I have credit card debt at 20% APR, and student loan debt at 8% APR. Do I try to pursue both equally, at the same time?
   
   Answer: no. Obviously I heavily pursue the credit card debt first, and worry about the student debt later.
   
   Similarly, I might decide to only worry about diet and sleep for now, and take on my porn addiction and lack of fitness later.
   
   And remember: once you've established a good habit, the amount of willpower you spend on it will be significantly less than what you spend on it right now.
   
   For example, right now you might be spending all your willpower on eating correctly. But a year from now, it will come naturally to you...at that point, eating correctly will be so easy that it doesn’t cost you any willpower whatsoever.
   
   Then you’re free to start pursuing your fitness goals...now you easily have enough willpower to pursue both diet and exercise, because you didn’t try to do them all at once.
   
   --------
   
   3. In addition to #2, some goals (once they’ve become second nature) will actually make it easier (ie cost less willpower) to accomplish other goals. I call them “enabling goals.”
   
   Sleep is the best example…if you are able to get the appropriate amount of sleep every night, suddenly your other goals all become easier and cost less willpower because you’re not so damn tired all the time.
   
   So if you can’t do all your goals at once, focus on sleep (or other enabling goals) first. You get those down, the others will follow.
   
   Make sense?
   
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   4. A smart investment up front will save money (or willpower) down the road
   
   Financial example: you ditch the junker and spend extra money on a car that is highly reliable and gets good gas mileage, saving you mechanic’s bills and gas money down the road.
   
   Personal goals examples:
   
   
7. I have a lot of nutritional supplements that I take every morning and evening. At first, I was unscrewing every bottle, every morning and evening. I was a dumbass who wasn't putting any thought into it, and surprise surprise, I was failing. I just wouldn't get around to it.
   
   Eventually, I bought four of these weekly pill organizers on Amazon. Now, I just go and fill them up once a month (not difficult), and pop one slot open and take the supplements every morning and evening (also not difficult).
   
   
8. I used to try to eat greens...but by the time I was done, I looked like a cow chewing its cud and my jaw was literally tired. And again, I was failing at it.
   
   Until I went and bought a used juicer...now, I juice once a week, and getting my vegetable intake is as easy as drinking it.
   
   
9. One of the supplements I take in the evening (per #3) is a small amount of melatonin...this in turn makes getting adequate sleep much easier, which makes all my other goals a lot easier.
   
   You get the idea? A smart investment can mean a far smaller willpower expenditure in pursuit of your goal. Figure out what’s holding you up, and if there’s something worth investing in to make it easier.
   
   Easier = less willpower expended = greater chance of success & more willpower for your other goals.
   
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   Now go start fulfilling your goals, TL;DR is at the top. Questions?

More pharmacy specific than office-y, but:

The Decapitator

Counting spatula with a hook on the end. The "easy open" seals actually open easily when you can stab through them. I like these much better than the spats with the hook in the handle (oof ouch owie my wrists) mostly because that's one less movement you've gotta do and I'm also never going to change my ways. How do you guys even count with these uncomfortable abominations?

This um... pharmacy tool (Yeah idk what to call it either) is great for, say, opening amoxicillin suspension seals. Super useful to keep it by the FillMaster.

I like plastic baskets like these for organizing paper prescriptions. You can find something like these at any dollar store. 3 of them is what I prefer - legend drugs, CIII-Vs, and C-IIs, with the backtags (with the prescription number) facing you. If prescriptions are always being typed up at the same place, it becomes super easy to keep track of when you need to rubber-band a section (for example, we sorted controls by the thousands in terms of prescription number, i.e. Rx#s 1000-1999)

This is behavior hacking! You need to (1) remove obstacles to success and (2) set up rewards and punishments for your behavior.

(1) Remove Obstacles

Stumbling Block: Too many bottles to open when I’m tired
On Sunday evenings, when my husband is ironing shirts and I’m going over my doctor’s appointments for the week in my calendar, I also put my pills in a weekly pill sorter. I had to try a few to find which one worked best for me.

Stumbling Block: Mid-day meds forgotten at home
Right now I’m on AM/PM only but when I had mid-day meds, I put them in a separate, smaller pill sorter that went into my purse since I am often out mid-day.

Stumbling Block: Don’t want to get out of bed to take meds in the kitchen/supplies were all over the place
My med bottles, heating pad, pain cream and other pain/injury stuff are in a 3-tier rolling cart from IKEA that is by my bedside. I try to keep the top tier clear except for my pill sorters, my take as needed meds and a few other small bits.

Stumbling Block: Started ignoring my alarms
I have phone alarms that have a loud and annoying ringtone to remind me to take my meds. I change it up every few months so I don’t get too used to it. It’s also a different sound than my wake up alarm and my other phone sounds. Some people do better setting a physical alarm clock that is harder to turn off or ignore.

(2) Rewards & Punishments

For awhile when I was struggling to take meds, I had a deal with my sister that I’d text her every am and pm with a picture of my empty pill sorter section that was time/date stamped.
(Note the removing obstacles here by fighting against my instinct for laziness. The check in was twice per day, required a photo and required a time stamp.)

Punishment:
I gave her an envelope with $25 bucks per week in it. If I missed an accountability picture text, I lost $5. If I was more than 30 minutes late with my meds, I lost $2.

Reward:
At the end of each week, she’d tell me my balance and if I never missed a dose, she sometimes put in an extra $5 reward (Never asked her to do that. It was just her being awesome.)
Reward:
At the end of the month, she’d send me the money in the mail since we live a few hours away. We could have done all this electronically, but physically sending her an envelope with $100 in it each month and physically getting that money back (or less money back) made it much more real to me.
Reward:
I also got to reward myself with that money by paying for a massage or pedicure or a nice haircut/blowout.
Penalty:
If I didn’t have enough money for the reward I was working towards, I didn’t get to do it.

This worked super well for me until I got into a better natural rhythm. Now I do it for myself and my husband kind of checks in with me about it.

Here are some tools I’ve tried and liked:

AM/PM 7-Day Pill Sorter, long & flat - nicely sized, has push buttons instead of snaps that hurt fingers, good colors
AM/PM 7-Day Pill Sorter, removable rectangles - nice, large capacity, easy open, secure close, individual squares for each day of the week, 8th container for extra meds

Mid-Day/Travel Med Sorter, rectangle - nice size, secure, removable compartments for different pill sizes, up to 4 sections, nice colors
Mid-Day/Travel Pill Sorter (Round, 7 day) - east to load, easy to dispense, 7 sections, small and well-designed

Did You Take Your Pills? Tool - small card that has switches you can flip for each day and AM/PM to ensure you take meds
Time Since Last Dose Pill Bottle Caps - Of you forget when you last took your meds, check the color-coded caps to see how long it’s been since your last dose. Helpful if you take multiple times per day or struggle to remember if you’ve taken each med. several colors so you can mark multiple bottles.

Good luck OP!

The number one thing is to set up a network of people. They can be old coworkers, his friends, her friends, family members, church members, neighbors, paid caregivers, who knows maybe boy scouts that need a badge, to give respite care. This can be sitting with them and chatting while you do laundry in the other room, taking them for icecream, letting you go to the doctor yourself, run errands, or just sit with them while you bang you head against the wall. Set them up before you need them, I have one person stop by once a week at least. I try to make it be around the same day/time so I can plan to take "me time" while they are there. This week I went for a massage, last week I took a nap. If you don't take care of yourself you will snap.


Bed alarms are great! They also make matts you can sneak under the carpet by the front door to prevent wandering.

I find making my day easier gives me more time to care properly which in turn makes my day easier! I do this by automating things when I can. I use one of these so I only have to sort pills once a week and can't forget a dose because of a minor catastrophe.

Ivation Automatic Pill Dispenser, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FL620B0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_JcKAwbXNQMT9X

I bought a good shower bench and shower wand to make shower time easier on me, as well as a wall based shampoo soap and conditioner dispenser so I don't have to fiddle with bottles. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FGE5KA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_aiKAwb2Y8YGED


I love this help button!!!!!
LogicMark Freedom Alert Emergency Alert System -https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IMW8O4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_ekKAwbHQ5JNY6

It works like a cordless home phone and has to be connected to a landline. You don't pay a monitor fee like most. You program it to call 4 numbers in order and then can choose to have it call 911 if the 4 people don't answer. I have it call me twice and the hired caregiver twice. When you answer it tells you it's and emergency and asks you to accept the call by pressing 5 so it isn't tricked by voicemail. It reaches way further than expected and you can speak to them through a mic and speaker in the button!

I also have to say that YouTube and Netflix are good too. Is he reminiscing about a certain time period? Pull up YouTube and find a documentary or news reel. Pull up Netflix and find an old film! Also for some reason my household can watch Simons cat animations for hours just laughing.

I put an iPad mounted to the wall by his bed. The tv was too hard for him to use and he lost the remote constantly , but you can lock a iPad into "guided access" meaning it won't do anything but the app it's in when you start it. I lock it in Netflix and start a movie at bedtime and he happily goes to bed instead of complaining he is not tired (even though he was just snoring in his chair). He can use it easily because you just tap the movie you want to watch. (He just chooses from the few he can see on the screen as he's not great at navigating)

In another way to make my day easier I got a automatic pet feeder and pay to have groceries delivered (thanks Safeway!) I use the app for my pharmacy to help me keep track of refills.

This got a bit longer than I meant so I'll apologize now. But the first thing I'm going to say is fuck bitches. Get money.

Someone wants to lie about you? That's on them. You do you. It's cliched bullshit but honestly you can't control other people. There are things you can control, but you're giving all that power away for absolutely free to people you're not sure even like you or want you in their social lives.

So just ignore all of that bullshit. People will figure out what's up if you're honest with yourself and honest with them. Don't try to put yourself up in anyone's eyes and don't let anyone put you down. Just be.

That doesn't actually fix anything. You can fix it though.

Changing in place is more difficult than starting over. But it's a longer lasting thing. If you get a new job, you'll go in like a fireball, you'll be on top of all of your shit.

For a while, at least. And then six months later there's an explosion, and it all falls apart.

I want you to do three things. Some of them cost a minimal amount of money, but not much. If you stick with it, I promise in six months you'll be feeling better instead of falling apart.

I'm not being shitty, but I want you to picture yourself six months from now. Where you're headed. What's likely to happen. And I want you to imagine a different you that is powerful and in control.

And no I'm not talking about sobriety or Jesus. But that's the second time I've mentioned control, and it's going to come up several more times.

This doesn't mean everything's sunshine and roses all the time. It means that all those little strings that attach you to the stress in your life, that pull you in every direction, those ties are anchored a few inches away instead of inside you.

You're safe inside a little bubble where you have control of the things that matter.

The first thing I want you to do , and the most expensive, is go into a CVS or a Rite-Aid or whatever pharmacy you have nearby or just go on Amazon and get one of those little compartment things for pills that old people use.

And when you get pot I want you to put a bowl-pack in 13 of those. This is the first test, and the most difficult. This is the part where you control your actions.

Those bowl-packs are for every day between pays. You get one, and only one. It's not enough to get fucked up. That's not the point. It's purely therapeutic. (And when I explain the rest of my plan, you'll see how powerful this act really becomes.) Whatever's left over after you set that aside is for you to go to town on. If it lasts, it lasts. If it doesn't.. don't fuck around with what you have set aside.

The second thing I want you to do is get a rubber band, the big ones like a bunch of rolls of quarters sometimes have around them from the bank. I want you to wear this on your wrist. When you feel yourself starting to lose control, I want you to take action instead of letting it flow.

I want you to snap the band on the outside of your wrist. You'll bruise the hell out of yourself if you sting the inside, but a little snap on the outside won't hurt you. But it will bring you fully and 100% into the moment.

I want you to snap the rubber band and take just a second to remember that no matter what happens.... even if the place burns down... you have a bowl-pack waiting for you at home. And no matter what, eventually you will be there, you will be packing that bowl and you will smoke it. And then you can do whatever it is you enjoy doing. This is the part where you control your emotions.

The final thing I want you to do is to change your focus. I'm sure there are several metrics that they grade you on, and I'm sure there's a lot of stress involved with those numbers. Fuck all that.

You're getting $9 an hour, and they're not going to fire you. All they're going to do is drag you aside while you nod and smile, and then you do whatever you do.

So instead of getting pissed off about those numbers I want you to focus 100% of your energy on customer satisfaction. Every action you take, every decision you make, I want your goal to be a smiling customer at the end of the transaction.

This is controlling your environment. Happy people make people happy. And if someone doesn't want to be happy, well fuck them. You have your plans set in stone, because of decisions you made that no one but you can affect.

Remember that bubble. Imagine everything in your life that affects you, attach a string to it and give it a different color. And I'd bet you a bag that even after I mentioned the bubble before and just now, you still imagine those things going straight to your heart.

You need to change that. The first step is taking things into your own hands.

Ok I don't know which comment to reply to, because everyone has the same issue, but here's what worked awesome for me!

Pill Bottle Timer Cap

I mean all it does is start a timer every time it's been opened. The cool guy top doesn't fit my Rx bottles, but they come with a bottle that fits it anyways. It's honestly super dope. I once took a double dose of Adderall because I forgot that I'd just taken it mere moments before. Yikes. never again.

I got mine over a year ago, and the time has just started to fade. But apparently you can replace it with just a regular ol' watch battery.

Do you have a cat (or dog, but I think cats are better at this)? Because I once read a post about forgetting to take meds, or in this case, T, where every time you take those meds at a certain time or on a certain day, you feed the cat a specific treat. After a while, they come to expect food at that certain time on that certain day and they WILL yell at you and follow you around the house until you do it. I know it's kind of silly, but I've had friends who said it worked for them for taking certain types of medication and things. '

Also, they sell pill bottles with caps that have screens on them that tell you how long ago the bottle was last opened. You could put the vial of T inside the pill bottle? So you know when you last opened it and took it?

https://www.amazon.com/Automatically-indicator-Auto-Repeating-pill-included/dp/B004W8EQC4

The BPA free is an excellent idea. Ours that we've been using aren't, and now I kind of want to get new ones! I googled and found this one which would be nice because it has an AM and PM side!

ETA This one is super cool too!! And you can take off each day to throw in your purse if you need to. I think I may order one of these now haha. (another edit--nevermind, this one is quite expensive!)

Okay, you absolutely need one of these bad boys. I use both sides as one weeks worth of pills, so that I have 2 weeks worth ready at all times.

Next, use an app to track an remind you to take your pills at the same time every day. CareZone and Medisafe both have free useful apps that are super helpful.

It only has two slots, but I really like this case due to the volume it holds. I take my pills in really only two main times anyway (morning and lunch) but a lot of them are LARGE pills, so this holds them all really well. I waffled for a while because the cost on it is crazy, but I've had it for a year and its been great. I also like that the days come off individually, so you can re-arrange them, or take just a day or two with you when going somewhere. It's easy to load, and then I dump the relevant pills into a cute little dish each day to take them.

Then I use a regular small, 7-section pill holder for my bedtime pills that was one I rejected for my main daily pill holder because it was too small for everything.

You might get a pill-minder and leave it with your phone and keys and such that you pick up every day.

Glad to hear you're feeling better though. Good luck to you!

I always wondered why people don't use those pill organizers, to create "palettes". A monthly pill planner looks like it could work and this stackable pill reminder looks cool.

I wonder how these would perform with powder in them. I certainly wouldn't expect to toss them around without creating a powdery mess. Has annyone tried this method?

This pill organizer could be a cool way to manage baggies if that's your thing.

I have a Walmart brand solar lantern similar to this one. I keep it collapsed, in one of the center cupholders, so that it is always handy and charged for the times when we are setting up camp after dark.

A gear net that stretches across the inside roof of the UTE is good for stashing a wallet, phone, eyeglasses, slippers, and a change of clothes for the morning.

If you want privacy or the ability to sleep in after the sun rises, strip magnets and black cloth will suffice to cover your windows.

If you like to cook, rather than pack a passel of spice bottles, transfer your favorites into daily medication organizers. If you are road tripping and will be out for a while, look for organizers with larger compartments.

If you will be camping in the desert in the summer, get a spray water bottle to dampen your top sheet before you go to sleep. That will keep you cool until you do and the sheet will be dry again by morning.

If you will be camping in hot and humid areas, a small rechargeable usb fan set to blow on your face and neck will make you feel much cooler.

I got a pill box like this one. Even though obviously T doesn't fit in a pill box, it has been helpful to flip open each lid each day and know that I can't flip open Friday until I take the shot. I also write a "T" on that day with a dry erase marker that I wipe off after I take the shot. It's been really helpful for me and it's really easy to pass off as anything, even vitamins and supplements.

How old is your uncle? General Health?

About 80% of the people with Parkinson's have tremor. Parkinson's is more of a collection of issues that are lumped under Parkinson's.

PDD is Parkinson's Disease Dementia. Both that and Lewy Body Dementia are very closely related to Parkinson's.

Biggest thing is to closely work with his Doctor's on what medication he is taking, when he needs to take it, and help with pill dispenser/reminder. I print out a sheet with all my medications on it, and dosage. Only one doc noted the issue with Tramadol and my other medications! Hence my list of everything I am taking.

Friend of mine, with a TBI, woke up. Took her meds, went back to sleep, woke up, took her meds... She ended up consuming five days worth of medication in one day. One possible solution pill dispensor

Resources on PDD and LBD:

https://www.lbda.org/category/3437/what-is-lbd.htm

http://www.alz.org/dementia/parkinsons-disease-symptoms.asp

I think this is something very useful who have Alzheimer's.

I found it on the other days and I think it will fit here as well.

Edit: Found it for someone interested.

I organize all my pills in these pill organizers. I just toss each day's organizer into my work bag before heading out each morning. Love it because I only have to sort my pills once per week instead of on a daily basis. Also really handy when traveling or staying at my parents' house over the weekend since I don't have to carry all the bottles, just the relevant organizers.

Comes in 2, 3, and 4 compartment options, so pick whichever one fits best with your pill schedule.

https://www.amazon.com/Timer-Caps-Large-Vials-Automatically/dp/B00HNWK508

Pretty much just like those, except mine have QFC (Kroger) stamped on it because that is where I got mine. You might want to check with your pharmacist because mine were made for the various pharmacies in some QFC stores and they gave it away for free.

Oh yeah, another commenter mentioned that if you have memory problems, making sure you take your meds reliably can be an issue, especially if you are traveling and out of your normal routine.

I've used the pill boxes, and they work well, but filling them weekly can become a pain in the ass. I've also had a situation where the day labels have worn off and I forget if the pill box starts on Sunday or Monday... stupid I know, but it's easy to slip up if you aren't thinking about it.

I bought a smart pill cap that syncs via Bluetooth with an app on your phone, but it was HORRIBLE.. the one thing you need out of such a device is for it to be reliable, and it just wasn't. The app would alert me even though I know I've taken my meds one day, and then not alert me when I needed to take them the next. Almost every day it would have a false open around 4:00 AM, so the morning alert would never go off. It was just bad.. it was called Pillsy, so if you stumble upon it, avoid it at all costs.

I ended up finding this, and it is a near perfect solution. The bottle looks small, but will actually hold a month's worth of my meds, and timer just works perfectly.

Hijacking top reply to put a link to a product for people like me who need something like this and wanted to see how much they would be. Looks like around 5 a bottle on amazon. link to a product for the lazy

I've had the same thing happen to me with my med, more times than I care to admit. These helped me get peace of mind.

Sounds like you need what I finally bought just this year [because of similar incidents in my life] . You can get it on Amazon too --for great prices!

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4b/79/9c/4b799c124838d477b8f06207c14c0977.jpg

https://timercap.com/

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCaps-Large-Vials-Qty-Automatically/dp/B00ECK8KFG/ref=pd_sim_121_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00ECK8KFG&pd_rd_r=XS7H0XX7PNXH0R28ABH5&pd_rd_w=yahWa&pd_rd_wg=MP8nj&psc=1&refRID=XS7H0XX7PNXH0R28ABH5

Amazon! =D I splurged on this one because I thought it was pretty.

This is a much cheaper one.

And this is another cheaper format.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNWK508/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here it is! Sorry it took me a while to find it :) I love it though!

Go to Walgreens or wherever you want and get a [large pill organizer] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000LJC7N8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1519912870&sr=8-2&keywords=big+pill+organizer&dpPl=1&dpID=31yvzMrNhrL&ref=plSrch#).

Fill it with your D20s and just shake it around to roll several in sequence. That'll give you several rolls at once.

I'd also put your normal bonus to hit for each of your attacks on the container as well.

This works for GMs who like to roll various checks secretly for the whole party as well.

Alternatively, get the group to use roll 20, you'll be able to program your iteratives in there (among many, many, other things)... But that's probably not a viable solution if you're not already using it...

T4 has a half life of 5-7 days so this won't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.

Drink plenty of water, stay away from caffeine, consider getting a weekly pill organizer to help you keep things straight.

The Core Set box works great. I'd also recommend a 7-day pill box for your tokens (to keep them organized). Example

You could also try taking your meds with you whenever you leave the house, putting your meds in bottles with timer lids so you will be able to see when it was last opened, and/or getting something to lock them up in (a lock box with a good lock, or putting a lock on a cabinet or drawer to keep them in). Also, it might help you feel less anxious about leaving the house if you have a way to lock up anything particularly valuable (jewelry, important documents, etc.), confidential, or potentially embarrassing (like sex toys).

A pricey one: https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Dispenser-Medication-customizable-indicator/dp/B0147HTHRI/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522970441&sr=8-3&keywords=locking+pill+dispenser

This one can be secured to a cabinet out of the way of little hands: https://www.amazon.com/Dispenser-Organizer-Medications-Supplements-dispenser/dp/B001NUFWFY/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522971083&sr=8-2&keywords=locking+pill+dispenser Does not have a locking feature!

This one is like a tackle box: https://www.amazon.com/FORTUNE-DRAGON-Combination-Compartments-Childproof/dp/B01N3BE4TG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1522971278&sr=8-6&keywords=childproof+pill

This one is for a single medication. Combination lock:https://www.amazon.com/Combination-Prescription-Bottle-Locking-Medication/dp/B075WF14X3/ref=sr_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522971278&sr=8-7&keywords=childproof+pill

Sagely! Is an awesome pill holder!! Elite!

https://www.amazon.com/Sagely-Smart-Weekly-Pill-Organizer/dp/B01CPQHARW

Its on Amazon...u can take them individually out and its magnetic!

Lol, well put. Yeah they make these

I hear that my friend. These might help.

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCaps-Large-Vials-Qty-Automatically/dp/B00ECK8KFG

http://www.forgettingthepill.com/products/add-on-timer-item-a001-1b

I use the pill boxes you can find at places like dollar stores. Label the top of each compartment. Then strip part off a reel to fill it.

Like this one https://www.amazon.com/Large-Weekly-Pill-Organizer-70027PL70027PL/dp/B000M29NZY

I bought this. Best investment ever. Don't have to think about it. Don't have to remember to use an app or write anything down. I can also tell if someone else has opened the bottle!

Depends on your kid. When I flew with my son at that age, this is the thing that kept him occupied the longest: https://smile.amazon.com/Ezy-Dose-Monthly-Medtime-Planner/dp/B0035B2R6Q/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481202428&sr=8-1&keywords=month+pill+box

People told me to put little snacks in it so he could discover each one but he didn't (and still doesn't, at 22 months), care about that at all. He just wants to open and close the lids over and over and over and over and over...

Also, new books.

Sagely Smart Weekly Pill Organizer - Sleek AM/PM Twice a Day Pill Box with 7 Day Travel Containers and Reminder App (Large Enough to Fit Fish Oil and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CPQHARW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_yYwWBJ1EFwH2k

AUVON iMedassist Weekly AM/PM Pill Box, 2nd Gen Portable Travel Pill Organizer (7-Day / 4-Times-A-Day) with Moisture-Proof Design and Large Compartments to Hold Vitamins, Supplements and Medication https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MC6HJR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_drLhDbHAH6JX3

I have this one. It’s awesome. One separate container for each day of the week, and allows for morning, lunch, dinner, and bedtime dosing. Plenty of room.

It’s just as easy to forget if I already took it. These prescription bottle timer caps have been really helpful

https://www.amazon.com/7-Day-Pill-Box-Compartments-See-Through/dp/B003LHPKNG/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469154659&sr=8-5&keywords=4x+a+day+pill+box

https://www.amazon.com/Pillbox-Reminder-Organizer-7-day-Easy-lock/dp/B00JR77BHM/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469154659&sr=8-8&keywords=4x+a+day+pill+box

buy a few and keep them organized by week. so stack current week, next week, next next week. you'll still have a pill box but it will be easier to have these.

Yes, I have two cases so that I only need to refill pills once a month. They have four spaces for every day which is great because I take crap 3x day. It's really helpful for if my alarm goes off, I take the pills, then forget if I took them or not. I just look at the pill case and I can tell which day and which time have already been taken.

This is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MC6HJR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ix7HDbKQ9AMP9

You can get pill bottles that tell you how long it's been since you've last taken medication. You can also buy just the caps at CVS, which is what I did. They're a lifesaver.

I see these suggestings of pill minders, but my favorite solution is the timer cap. No need to fill it weekly, good way to keep all your extras in the same bottle, just very fool proof.
www.amazon.com/Timer-Caps-Std-oz-Vials/dp/B00EZ6TL2S/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511961881&sr=8-2&keywords=timer+cap

I had this problem at first too. If you're taking it daily, I would highly recommend a 7-day pillbox like /u/kalupa said. Really helps stay organized and getting the right doses prepared ahead of time. I put it somewhere that I can't miss, which is typically in front of my alarm clock. If you take multiple doses a day, get the AM/PM version of the box.

Then, I leave that specific day open so when I wake up to turn the alarm and can barely see, I can just grab the box and toss 'em back like skittles. Now when I'm feeling weird and not sure if the meds are kicking in, I just look at the box and see if I missed it today for whatever reason. And that's happened at least a handful of times.

I do, yes. There are a few things you can do though; I asked someone else to handle my meds for a long time since I didn't trust myself, if you can rely on a family member, friend or whoever, it's a good alternative.

There are also special pillboxes such as this that are locked and have a timer so it only dispenses the medication for the given time and day so you can't access all of them, at least not easily. Do give the key to unlock the thing to someone else of course.

That said, I do fight the urge to down the bottle more often than not but I'm trying to learn how to live with it by distracting myself from that intrusive thought, mainly with music.

Stop taking them though, no, it's been hard enough already to reach the point I'm in right now to flush everything down the toilet. Besides, I'm not angry at the world anymore, well, not as much as I used to be, so that helps.

Take care of yourself.

I had no idea these things existed till I worked in a Pharmacy. They don't always work, some caps just don't like to separate. But it's pretty easy most of the time. Generally it'll pop the outer cap off in seconds. safety cap removal tool

I have a friend who swears by these timer caps. Maybe check them out? Tells you how long since you last opened the bottle.

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCap-Bottle-Stopwatch-Medication-Tracker/dp/B00HNWK508

I like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVGZ2J0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_GYn9AbZK6P863

They make it in several different configurations, and you can pack only as many days as you need so you're not constantly lugging around a whole bottle or a whole weeks worth.

> I will show one of them what a SMALL pinch of food looks like!!

Pro tip, get one of those daily pill dispensers and put an appropriate amount of food in for each day. That way no one will overdo it and you won't have mixups where two people feed in the same day. (And you can tell if someone forgot.)

Edit: like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07794YMY7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Gp4OBbG6C1GZF

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVGZ2J0/ref=twister_B07LBYCYWF

I own 7 weeks of these bad boys. Perfect for travel, fun colors, and very dependable. I do the 3 times a day deep organizers, but this company has a few different options. The only thing is they can be a bit difficult to open, but when I load them I just use a letter opener to save my nails.

For my son I use a set of individual day pill boxes that is a set of 7. It has Morning, Lunch & Bedtime sections in each box. This one

It works really well, especially since he spends some weekends with his grandparents and I can just send the days that he needs instead of a whole week's worth.

Here's a weird one: a butter knife.

I use it to open cans that have a pull-tab top without wrecking my fingers. Stick the tip through the loop, lever up.

See also: an electric can opener, this giant pill organizer, these grab bars that can easily be installed in the tiniest of apartment bathrooms without starting an argument with your landlord (priceless!) combined with this hockey tape (put it on your grab bars and crutch handles to keep your hands from slipping) and these anti-slip stickers, (I even put the stickers on the bathroom floor.)

Something like this might help you out if you're ever unsure. They have caps for different styles.

If you just want an am/pm pill dispenser, and something you could leave on the kitchen counter with that week's meds in it (nothing massive) try this it has push buttons to open the compartments. here is a different one that is interesting too.

Most screws and stuff, I put in pill organizers. They have a variety of sizes. For bigger stuff, something like what you linked is good

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LJC7N8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_NQLczbVTXGNBN

I've used something like that with other legal pills mixed in many times.

This is why I bout a morning / noon / afternoon / bed time pill organizer. :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000M29NZY?cache=e3ab5613d59f303d1c3c891f7ec09a1e&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1413995050&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

You can get bottle caps that show the last time it was opend.
https://www.amazon.com/TimerCap-Stopwatch-Organizer-EZ-Twist-Mail-Order/dp/B00ECK8KFG

I just post this as a suggestion for her next gift.

I also recommend these or similar cap timers
https://www.amazon.com/TimerCap-Stopwatch-Medication-Reminder-Mail-Order/dp/B00ECK8KFG

You could also try a pill box like this [Amazon link]

Something like this one. there's other ones that's just the first one that showed up.

Going to throw in pill bottle timers too! I use them for my sleeping pills since a side effect of taking them is forgetting things! ;)

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCaps-Large-Vials-Qty-Automatically/dp/B00ECK8KFG

I got this. Absolutely necessary for me because I take IR so not only will I forget if I took it, but I will forget when even if I remember I did. lol

I think I have one of these floating around in my basement. It’s a little obnoxious but it will definitely do the trick

My grandpa had a similar problem- he would forget that he had taken his meds and would take them again. There were multiple times where he overdosed and ended up in the hospital. I ended up getting him this dispenser and it has prevented overdoses for nearly 2 years. The lock is kind of a joke, but it's enough to convince grandpa that no one is taking his pills.

LiveFine Automatic Pill Dispenser, 28-Day Electronic Medication Organizer with Alarm Reminders, Flashing Light and Safety Lock - Dispenses Prescriptions Up To 6 Times Per Day - Clear Lid https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FL620B0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5vUwybXRZXPJ9

Please consider buying this pill bottle cap, which will tell you the date and time the bottle was last opened. This way you can see how long ago you took a pill, or if someone else is opening the bottle.

Amazon has pill bottle lids, that tell you the last time you opened the Bottle!!
https://www.amazon.com/TimerCap-Organizer-Medication-Reminder-EZ-Twist/dp/B00HJD7RGQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=36XFLI8KRQDOL&keywords=pill+bottle+cap+with+timer&qid=1554142770&s=gateway&sprefix=pill+bottle+cap+&sr=8-4

Even OP in your link admitted is was from somewhere else.

This is where you can get them. It's the first amazon link I could find. https://www.amazon.com/TimerCaps-Large-Vials-Qty-Automatically/dp/B00ECK8KFG

This already exists, the company is called PillPack and Amazon bought them out last year. Many independent pharmacies will also do this for their patients if you ask. But realistically it's only necessary for people who have a bunch of different meds and aren't able to handle them all themselves. Most of us can just buy our own pill box (here's one for $8 on Amazon) and do it ourselves - and if any of you don't do this, you should!

Came here to recommend these automatic pill dispensers for people that need to take meds at certain times. I realize, of course, that these kind of devices are useless if you actually need to carry the meds on your person. These automatic dispensers have really been a life saver with dealing with my 'forgetful' elderly parents. They can be set to beep when the pills are dispensed, and will continue to beep until the pills are actually taken from the device.

I was thinking of getting one of those Monday through Friday pill boxes. Something like this.

They sell them at walmart or probably the dollar store.

If the box is empty, you took it.

This just came in the mail today because I've been so bad about forgetting my Savella and Gabapentin that I've caused myself to have withdrawal episodes.

Anyone else who's rolled around wailing uncontrollably for hours until you pass out because you're too afraid to go to ER and explain what a dummy you are will be able to relate. I thought the worst thing was being unmedicated, but it is not. The worst pain I've ever experienced with fibro was withdrawal. The reason being that the withdrawals do the opposite of the medication and add to the pain that is already there from being unmedicated.

Holy smokes, I hope this pill container works out. I like that it's rainbow. 🌈

I use a 7 day pill thingy but in each container is enough of my certain drug I need for the week; the original bottles are put away in a first aid box until I need to refill the container Sunday night.

Doesn't help with meds I don't take often (i.e. OTC meds); currently driving myself insane trying to remember if I took some painkillers after work. :p

I have an alarm that goes off an hour before I'm supposed to be up for the day so I can take my meds and wake with them working. Most of the time, I remember if I took them when the alarm went off. But a few times I had to play the 'do I feel like my meds are working' game. So I bought these and its come in handy a lot http://www.amazon.com/Timer-Caps-Large-Vials-Easy-/dp/B00ECK8KFG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1459370759&sr=8-1&keywords=timer+caps

I have a timer cap for my prescription bottle. Each time you take the lid off the bottle the timer resets so you know the last time you opened it. No more mystery. Doesn't help if I accidentally leave the house without taking my meds, but at least I don't take 2 by mistake.

I have this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJD7RGQ . One problem: The lid does not fit on the prescription bottle my pills come in. Solution: I transfer my pills to the bottle that came with the cap and carefully peel off the prescription label and stick it on the timer bottle (so I know when to call my doc for a refill and for legal reasons).

I was thinking maybe one of these, just so i would only have to fill it up once a month

https://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Dose-Monthly-Medtime-Planner/dp/B0035B2R6Q

[medication time indicator bottle] (https://www.amazon.com/Automatically-indicator-Auto-Repeating-Medication-Non-Adherence/dp/B004W8EQC4/ref=pd_cp_121_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004W8EQC4&pd_rd_r=TSS9AWN1P3Q6VGG7BXWZ&pd_rd_w=iQxpk&pd_rd_wg=ambPG&psc=1&refRID=TSS9AWN1P3Q6VGG7BXWZ)

Aka Delet3r is talking about this and similar products

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCaps-Large-Vials-Qty-Automatically/dp/B00ECK8KFG

Check out these pill bottle caps that tell you when it was last opened
https://www.amazon.com/Automatically-Records-Indicator-Auto-Repeating-Included/dp/B004W8EQC4/

This is the one I have https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W8EQC4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ANCkDb0CKDGG7

They make pill bottle caps with timers. You could try those.

I use these to keep track of when I last took my pills

There's a cap for that

then buy one

https://www.amazon.com/TimerCap-Stopwatch-Medication-Reminder-Mail-Order/dp/B00ECK8KFG

I got this one since I take my pills at home.

Then of course I have a separate one for my prescription stuff.

Maybe this will help?


AUVON iMedassist Weekly AM/PM Pill Box, 2nd Gen Portable Travel Pill Organizer (7-Day / 4-Times-A-Day) with Moisture-Proof Design and Large Compartments to Hold Vitamins, Supplements and Medication https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MC6HJR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_S9-ADbWNHQ42G

I found this https://www.amazon.com/Automatically-indicator-Auto-Repeating-Medication-Non-Adherence/dp/B004W8EQC4/ref=sr_1_18_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481128223&sr=8-18&keywords=electronic+pill+dispenser

TimerCaps with Large Vials (Qty 2) - LCD Stopwatch Timer Automatically Tracks Time Elapsed Between Doses - Pill Reminder for Medications and Vitamins https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECK8KFG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aFmUDb351ZHS8

You can get ones that offer four time slots, like this.

We were on a plane with our almost 2 year old son last year. My wife found an idea of using one of those weekly or monthly pill boxes like this one and filling each compartment with little snacks. Helped immensely plus I'll second /u/trytryagainn 's notion of cheap toys (ones you wouldn't mind losing) as presents and opening one every so often.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECK8KFG

You guys are way over thinking this....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07794YMY7/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539656970&sr=8-4&keywords=Daily+pill+organizer

They even come in 2 week and month organizers. Put a piece of index card on it or put labels on them.

I use one of these.

Here it is on amazonPill Cap Timer

Sorry if already posted

Caps are like these, but I got mine from rite aid and they were much cheaper: http://www.amazon.com/Timer-Caps-Large-Vials-Easy/dp/B00ECK8KFG

I'm not finished with the kondo book, but the current tl;dr is

(1) choose what to organize by category, not room (I.e., clothes day, makeup day, as opposed to closet day, because people tend to store things of the same category in multiple locations), and

(2) immediately donate or trash anything in that category that doesn't bring you joy.

That was a constant struggle until I got a pill cap with a timer on top that resets when it's opened, so you can see how long it's been since you've taken it.

https://smile.amazon.com/Apex-Healthcare-Products-Bubble-Lok-Organizer/dp/B000LJC7N8/ref=sr_1_5_a_it

Fill it once a week. Problem solved. It also gives you a week to realize you've run out and need to buy more.

This is the thematic choice for Twilight Struggle tokens.

Bought a pill organizer and it's positively huge. I don't like the standard ones because they chip my nail polish (yes I know dumb reason) and it's just so much easier to push a button.

It's likely infected or something if it's causing you that much trouble. Go to the dentist. Be upfront about your abuse history. Tell them you do except to be treated humanely and have a plan to take painkillers as prescribed. For instance, with my spinal surgery back in September, I used these timer caps, to take my meds as prescribed. It helped a lot.