If you have a chronic illness, such as Fibromyalgia, the chances are you are taking a few different medications and/or supplements. In this post, learn the supplement and medication management tips I use that help me to keep track.

I Take Multiple Pills Each Day

Although I do not take any medications for Fibromyalgia itself, I take herbal therapies* and supplements as part of my treatment protocol. And, I take levothyroxine for an underactive thyroid.

This means– at the time of writing this– taking nearly 30 different capsules every day.

When you throw brain fog into the mix, it’s important that you get into a routine and know exactly what you are taking.

Below are my supplement and medication management tips.

To make this post easier to write, I am going to use the word ‘medication’ to mean both medications and supplements for the most part, as the tips are applicable to both… else things could get a bit wordy!

medication management tips

1/ Write Down What You Take

When you take different medications it’s important to know exactly what you are taking and at what dose. Keep a list of exactly what you take.

Include the medication name, the dose and how many times per day you need to take it.

I have a list written down on paper that I can refer to but I also have a blackboard in my kitchen where I have it written down too.

This acts as a visual reminder to take my capsules and it also helps when it comes to filling my pill boxes.

2/ Get Organised

Write on your medications’ packaging/bottle how many capsules you are to take and at what times. This acts as a secondary reminder to your lists and helps when preparing your meds.

Preparing your medications every single day can be tiring. I personally prefer to use pill boxes so that I can have 7 days worth of capsules ready to go at one time.

I am lucky in that I can split my capsules up into twice daily doses. So I have a Mon-Sun pill box for both AM and PM doses. I write on each box with a sharpie pen so I know which is which.

I appreciate that some medications have to be taken upwards of three times per day, which can complicate things.

There are of course pill boxes that can help you organise this.

There are also services that can make things much easier for you.

In the UK there is a service called Pillbox UK that dispenses your medication in easy to use pill boxes for free. There is a similar service in the US called Pill Pack.

Remember to carry your medications with you when you go out if you will need them.

3/ Be Mindful When Making Up Pill Boxes

This one is about the dreaded Fibro fog. I was finding that I could get easily confused when I was making up my pill boxes and would forget what capsules I had already put into the pill box.

I, therefore, have set myself a little routine that I follow when I make up my pill boxes.

I have a cupboard where I keep all my supplements and I will take out everything that I need. I take the lids off all bottles and remove any packets of pills from their boxes before I begin.

I have them set out so that I can work from left to right. I will fill up the pill boxes one supplement at a time.

4/ Set Reminders

If you are the type of person who generally carries your phone with you, utilise the reminders feature. Set a reminder for each time you need to take your medication.

Try to take it at the same time every day so that you naturally begin to fall into a routine.

If it helps in the beginning, keep your medications somewhere that they are easy to see as having the visual reminder can help.

Tips For Taking Medications & Supplements

I find it is best to take my supplements with something other than water. For me, that is often fruit juice or a smoothie.

This helps them to go down better.

If you are taking capsules, tilt your head forward as this makes them easier to swallow. For tablets, it is best to tilt your head back.

If you are able to, it is often a good idea to take your meds with food so that they don’t upset your stomach and the food will also help them to go down. Be sure to check the label of your medications though as some are required to be taken without food.

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Do you have any medication management tips that you would add? Share them in the comments below.

Further Reading:

• The DrugStars App: Donate to Charity for Free by Taking Your Medications
• Why I Don’t Take Medications To Treat My Fibromyalgia
• Seeing a private endocrinologist for a suspected underactive thyroid

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