How do you know whether you took every dose of every medication today?

This is a trick question because it’s hard to remember what you forgot to do. Opening the pharmacy bottle will not tell you anything because you can’t tell if there is one less pill! The best way to show yourself that you took every dose is to use a medication organizer box that you can buy at your pharmacy for a few dollars. These boxes are available with 7 compartments (one for each day of ther week), 14 compartments (2 for each day of the week), or 28 compartments (4 for each day of the week, for complex schedules). If the box is clear plastic, you can tell whether you took your dose by looking at the box. Any pills remaining in the box did not get into your body!

Continue to Compliance in Kids and Teens

Section Editor: Robert Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., author: Joyce Cramer
Last Reviewed: 11/15/08