If you have had Parkinson’s disease (PD) for a while, you have undoubtedly become painfully familiar with pills -- and lots of them. As your PD progresses, it often becomes harder and harder to keep track of things, never mind all of the pills you need to take and when you need to take them. You also now have to worry about interactions of drugs with other drugs, or of drugs with certain types of foods.
How can you get on top of, and stay on top of, your medications? Here are some tips for effectively managing and monitoring your medications and their effects on you.
Taking Stock and Creating a Routine
First, make a list of all of the medications you are currently taking. Write down the name, the amount and the times you take the medications.
Then, take this list to your neurologist. Tell your neurologist that you prefer that one doctor takes responsibility for overseeing all your Parkinson's disease or neurological medications. When you have more than one doctor prescribing for you, it becomes easier to overlook potentially unpleasant or even dangerous side effects and drug interactions from the use of multiple medications. Go over your list of medications with your neurologist to make sure that the list is correct and that the combination of medications it represents is the best combination for you.
Once you have a correct and complete list of your prescription medicines, have the list printed on card stock and laminate it. Create several copies of this laminated list of your medications. Or, store the list on your portable electronic device (PDA or cell phone). Carry one copy with you wherever you go. Always show your list of medications to any doctors who might treat you for any condition.
Your next step is to go over your list of medications and plot out the time you are supposed to take each medication. The goal is just to get a general sense of when each medication needs to be taken. Do they fall into patterns like 'once in the morning,' 'once at midday' and 'once before bedtime'? Write down or create a graphic representation of when you are to take your meds. This graph will serve as a visual reminder to you and your care partner.
You might also consider obtaining a plastic pill-organizer. These organizers can be obtained from the pharmacy, and they can be pretty elaborate. They can organize your meds by day of the week and by time of day. Some models even organize your meds by dose within each day and time category. Some pill organizers are electronically rigged to sound off when you are due to take a pill. There are also small pocket containers that you can use to store your pills when you need to go out for long periods of time.
Dealing with Pharmacy Hassles
Everyone knows what a hassle it can be to get your prescription medicines from even the best run and well-staffed pharmacies. The best way to deal with the hassles you find at the pharmacy is to prepare in advance for them.
I recommend that you choose one pharmacy as your preferred pharmacy. Get your insurance information set up with that pharmacy so that you do not need to provide it each time you go for some new medication or adjustment to your current ones. If the pharmacy is a member of a chain of stores like CVS or Walgreens, you ask the pharmacist if your insurance information will be available to other stores in the chain. If so, then you will have a wider choice of stores to go to get your medications with ease. You might also choose a pharmacy / store that is open 24 hours a day.
Try to pay for your medications with a debit card so that you have an independent record of what you bought and when.
Save money on your medication. To keep costs of medications down, you might consider purchasing medications in bulk. Many insurance companies now offer this sort of option. You have your bulk orders delivered to your door via mail. Your doctor may also be able to help you keep costs down by prescribing generic versions of some of the drugs you need. You may also be eligible to receive some of your prescription medications for a reduced cost or even for free. Contact the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) to check on your eligibility.
Know your medication. Once your pharmacist fills your prescription, check the label to be sure you can read it and that you have received the right medication. If it’s a new medication, ask your pharmacist for instructions on how to take it (with meals 3 times a day, for example), and ask if there are any side effects to look for. If it’s a refill of medicine you have been taking regularly, quickly open the bottle to make sure the pills look familiar. If they do not, ask the pharmacist about it.
