Medication adherence is taking your meds at the right time of day, in the right dosage, and the right number of times. This is an important part of your care plan.
If your doctor writes you a prescription, you need to get it filled and use it for as long as your doctor told you to.
For example, if your doctor says to take a medicine once a day with food until you run out of pills, follow his directions exactly. These directions are for your safety. Maybe the med causes side effects like nausea if taken without food. And in some cases, a bug can come back even stronger if you don’t take all of the prescription.
If you take medication regularly, like for a chronic condition, it is especially important to keep taking your meds until your doctor tells you otherwise.
Always ask your doctor any questions you may have about your medicines. Make sure you understand the best way to take your meds and what they will do for you when your doctor prescribes them. Always call your doctor before you quit taking any prescription medicine.
And you never have to forget to refill your prescription again. Many pharmacies let you place orders online for pick up.
Helpful Mobile Apps
Some major pharmacies, like Walgreens , CVS, Walmart, and Sam’s Club also have apps that help you refill and manage your prescriptions and find a pharmacy near you, anytime, anywhere.
The OptumRx App is also a great way to stay on top of your prescriptions. With the mobile app in your pocket:
- Never miss a dose! Set reminders to take your prescription or over-the-counter-medications.
- Stay on top of medication refills. See when refills are due, get refill reminders, and quickly contact your pharmacy.
- Have one-touch access to your electronic pharmacy ID card.
- Order refills from OptumRx Home Delivery.
- Find network pharmacies by ZIP code or location, then check and compare current prescription prices.
- Show your doctor exactly what medications you are taking.
- Pull up your medication history anytime.
- Learn about medication side effects and interactions.
- Keep your mind sharp with a brain quiz and brain games.
Here are some other great apps to help you stay on top of your prescriptions: Medisafe App (iOS and Google Play), MyTherapy App (iOS and Google Play), Pills On Time – Medication Reminder & Pill Tracker (only Google Play), CareZone App (only iOS).