heatherwitch:
I’ve been on up to 35 medications at once, and am now taking some 8 times a day. Here’s some tips and tricks I’ve built throughout the years:
Scheduling/remembering:
Make a schedule. Write down what you’re taking, when you have to take it, everything.
Set alarms.
If you have the time, separate them into piles for each session.
Make a checklist with all of the times you have to take it, and when you hit certain points, treat yourself to a set thing.
Find someone to hold you accountable. Someone who also has a ton of meds is ideal, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you must, prioritize them based on importance.
When taking unpleasant meds:
If your meds are gross: take it with a spoonful of honey.
If it’s a tablet crush it up and put it in a capsule instead (be sure to read the label, some need to stay as a tablet and aren’t meant to be crushed)
If you feel like it’s stuck in your throat (but isn’t actually), take a couple bites of food.
Make a cup of tea, I like herbal or ginger. Sip it between pills, but don’t try to swallow them with hot liquid.
Sometimes tinctures are worth mixing in drinks, sometimes it’s better to just take them straight and shorten the suffering time.
If you can’t get them down, sometimes carbonated drinks can make it easier.
It’s okay to take breaks, I like to take a few gross ones then rock out to a song while sipping tea!
Motivation techniques:
Make it fun. Put some headphones in and dance and have a time while taking them. This was key for me when I had to do IM injections.
I like watching movie trailers, it’s distracting and rewarding and I only do it when I’m taking meds.
Put them in a cute bowl. Also get a cute waterbottle so you’re excited to us it!
Don’t let yourself do stuff until you take them. You may not want to take them, but you also aren’t gonna have anything fun to do until you do.
Get yourself a fancy drink (or bottle soda) that you only can have when you’re taking the meds.
Realize that it might not become easier/a habit. I’ve been taking a ton of meds for years and it still is hard. (And I forget all the time who am I kidding)
Other tips:
Keep a journal with a list of meds, current doses, and any interactions they may have.
Carry a list of medications with you in your wallet.
It can be helpful to track the first week to a month of taking new meds and note changes in symptoms.
If you need someone to be proud of you, you can always send me a message/ask!
