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Forgetting morning meds Any tips? Rate Topic: -----

#1 User is offline   kjauron 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 04:29 PM

Nighttime meds I have no problem with. I have a good bedtime routine and it's easy to add any number of pills without incident. But whenever pdoc instructs me to take something in the morning, I find myself forgetting all the time. I don't have a set morning routine in the same way, I get up at different times and do different things before work, depending on how I feel. Sometimes I remember but other days I've been at work for a couple hours before remembering.

I know I could keep some at the office for when I do forget - but mostly I'm thinking that I hate to be varying the time I take them so much (anywhere from 6am to noon), so I really want to get to a point where I remember. Any suggestions?
current dx: "bipolar affective disorder type II with borderline tendencies" / panic & anxiety NOS, social phobia, OC tendencies, GID
current rx: currently on a no-med trial

#2 User is offline   buddha443556 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 04:37 PM

I have seven day pill box. It helps keep me straight. I have a small bottle that I keep in my pocket for emergencies.
DX: PTSD, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, PANIC DISORDER WITH AGORAPHOBIA AND SCHIZOID PERSONALITY DISORDER.

NOTE: ALSO PSYCHOTIC AND UNAWARE OF IT MOST OF THE TIME.

RX: HYDROXYZINE 50MG PRN AND MICARDIS 20MG PRN.

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#3 User is offline   Phoenix_Rising 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 04:45 PM

I do the pillbox and emergency pill bottle like Buddha.

I also tape notes to my bathroom mirror (or some other location that I'm apt to see first thing in the morning.

Good luck!
Current Dx: BPII, rapid cycling; GAD, OCD, PMDD


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#4 User is offline   Entities 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 04:54 PM

I usually remember the morning meds but I -always- forget the bedtime ones. I just say " Oh I'll get them in a minute after I close my eyes for 2 minutes..." Bam wake up next day don't even know I forgot to take them. I have someone remind me online ;) usually works. My friend reminds me to take my nightime meds a 1am cause we stay up late. I'd invest in a pillbox but I couldn't really be bothered.
Diagnosis: " Psychotic disorder: Manic and depressive mood swings with psychosis" Anxiety and depersonalisation.
Current medications: Abilify 10mg, Cipralex 10mg, Epilim Chorno (Sodium Valproate/Depacon/So many names) currently titrating.
Old Medication: Zyprexa 5mg, Rispiradone 0.5mg, Buspar 10mg,Sanomigran 0.5mg, 7.5mg Zimovane,10mg Amytrptyline, Sumatriptan, 5mg Neoclarityn (Pollen allergy) Axid 10mg(GERD)
Currently: Not getting on with the psychiatrist (bitch). Also pretty much being forced out of my home because "no one can cope".

#5 User is offline   recoverymouse 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 05:15 PM

I forget my morning meds a lot too. If I leave out the dose where I will see it in the morning (I do my night and morning doses together in the evening) I tend to remember it more often.


#6 User is offline   gizmo 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 06:08 PM

I forget morning meds so much that I *have* to take all my meds at night, or I won't take them at all. Seriously, I have major brain fog in the morning, and forget to take morning meds 4 out of 7 times a week, on average. It was really bad when I was on geodon and had to take it twice a day. But every other med schedule has allowed me theraputic room to take them all at night, thank goodness.

It may not be perfect, but it just has to work for me.

(And yes, I have the pill boxes and such. It's the brain fog.. I'll walk right by it and forget I have pills to take)

And to think I'm on my son's case all the time to remember to take his ADHD med every morning :blink:
Diagnosis: BP I, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Meds Currently On: Lithium 1200 mg, Topamax 300 mg, Zyprexa 10 mg, Prozac 20 mg, Xanax 2mg PRN
Main Problems Right Now: Depression still hit or miss, got braces last week (yikes!). still dealing with increased anxiety

#7 User is offline   resonance 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 06:32 PM

You could try getting a cheap alarm and attaching your morning pillcase to it. That way when the alarm goes off and you go to turn it off your meds are right there.
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#8 User is offline   Persephone 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 06:52 PM

Put your meds next to your toothbrush, coffee pot, or anything else you always use in the morning.
Dx: MDD, history of anorexia and bulimia
Rx: Effexor 300mg, Trazodone 100 mg
Past Rx:
SSRIs: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro
SNRIs: Effexor, Cymbalta
other ADs: Serzone, Wellbutrin, Remeron
MAOIs: Parnate, Nardil
Mood Stabilizers: Abilify, Lithium, Lamictal
Other: Cytomel, several sleep meds

#9 User is offline   r2mnot 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 08:04 PM

I use google calendar to text my phone, and I have never forgotten my meds since I set it up. It's easy. You can also have it send pop ups to your pc, or it can send you an email. Since I have meds to take 6 times a day, I really couldn't do without this service.
I also don't have a pill organizer, but I have an old ice tray that I use for morning meds/supplements. (Not recomended if you have kids around.)

#10 User is offline   olga 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 08:05 PM

I like everyone's suggestions. I do the pillbox routine, and we have one for breakfast meds and one for dinner meds. For me, the morning routine always includes breakfast. I know a lot of people don't want to eat breakfast, but a little cereal or a granola bar and a piece of fruit will help those meds settle in your stomach.

I'm a broken record about food, but you really will have more of a morning routine if you get into the habit of eating something. And if you eat something, you can keep your pill box right next to the cereal box or the coffee pot, as was previously suggested.

olga
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#11 User is offline   kjauron 

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 08:24 PM

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions! I do have a pill box so I can keep track, but I don't even look at it most mornings when I forget so sadly that is moot. Also, there is nothing I do *every* morning without fail...sometimes I eat breakfast, sometimes not, sometimes I have coffee...sometimes I shower....well you get the point. :) I do brush my teeth every morning, but the meds just kind of blend in with everything else in the bathroom so I just ignore them anyway. Thankfully the stuff I'm on now doesn't need to be taken with food, but if that changes I'll have another problem since I don't often eat breakfast.

The Google Calendar seems like a good idea, I may try that. I'm pretty much a technology slave anyway so that will go well together. ;)

While we're on the subject though, are these hard and fast rules about when you need to take meds? Pdoc always just tells me when and I've never strayed from it...but I might bring it up next time that mornings are forgetful for me. Right now she's having me take my Abilify in the morning, Lamictal at night, but I hadn't asked why...maybe just to help with sleeping?
current dx: "bipolar affective disorder type II with borderline tendencies" / panic & anxiety NOS, social phobia, OC tendencies, GID
current rx: currently on a no-med trial

#12 User is online   Her Tommy 

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Posted 20 August 2009 - 07:25 AM

I also take my Abilify in the morning and my Lamictal at night, but my pdoc never specified that I was to take it at those times.

Tommy
Dx:BP1, OCD, Diabetetes Type 2, Hypertension & kidney stones
Rx:Abilify 10 mg., Klonopin 2.0 mg., Ambien CR 12.5 mg., Glucophage 2000 mg., Cymbalta 120 mg., Lamictal 400 mg., & Hyzaar 100/25 mg., Cogentin 1.5 mg., Glipizide 5 mg., and hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg.



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