Mesothelioma patients may take medications for a variety of reasons. It may be part of their treatment plan or to help manage side effects of treatment. But what can you do if you have trouble remembering them?
When taking medicines, it is important for mesothelioma patients to stick to a schedule. Doctors even advise patients to stay on schedule to promote the effectiveness of the drugs and minimize side effects. Side effects can also occur with common mesothelioma treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or surgery. Between pills for treatment and side effects, it can add up to a lot of pills to remember.
To help, some companies have developed drug tracker or drug reminder apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers. These apps keep track of which pills you take, the dosage and whether you have taken them. With so many options, how do you choose which one? Our list below includes some popular options you may be considering.
Best apps to track medications
Statistics show that there are as many as 125,000 deaths every year from people not taking medicines as prescribed. Fortunately, some research shows that medication tracker apps can help patients follow medication guidance.
Medication tracking apps work best if you use them diligently. If you choose to use one, make sure it works for your situation. Please note that some trackers may be free, while others may require a purchase or subscription fee.
Important factors when choosing a medication tracker
If you decide to use a medication tracker app, there are some important things to keep in mind. Whichever you choose, try to find one that:
- Alerts you when you need to refill a prescription
- Complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Simplifies finding and adding prescription names and entering dosage
Patient care teams may have apps they recommend. Patients or their loved ones may want to ask for suggestions at their next scheduled appointment.
1. Zorg4Today
Care4Today warns patients when it is time to take medication. Healthcare providers can also set up alerts for missed doses. Users can also set it up to provide reminders for upcoming appointments with their doctor. With the ability to take pictures of the pills, patients can quickly identify which ones to take. Care4Today is available for Android and iOS devices.
2. CareZone
CareZone helps track when doses are due and refills can be requested. It can also store all the contacts that the patient needs to remember. Users can also have the app remind them of upcoming appointments. Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones may find that these features help them feel more organized for their oncology appointments. The app includes a feature to take pictures of individual pills for quick reference. Visit the CareZone website to download the app for Android and iOS devices.
3. Dosage
Dosecast allows users to enter basic information about their medications to receive alerts. These alerts tell you when it’s time to take medications and when they need to be refilled. Dosecast is available for Amazon, Android and iOS devices.
4. Each dose
This app helps users keep track of their prescriptions and receive medication reminders. It also provides doctors with an app that can track multiple patients and make sure they continue to take their medications. EveryDose is available in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
5. Medisafe
Not only can this app help with drug tracking, but Medisafe can track other health data as well. Patients can monitor blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and weight. The patient can then share that information with their doctor. The app can also give caregivers and loved ones access to track medications. Find Medisafe Meds & Pill Reminder in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
6. MyMedSchedule Plus
MyMedSchedule Plus offers more than tracking and reminders. While the app has those features, it also explains why the patient is taking that medication. If the patient’s doctor has MyMedSchedule Pro, the doctor can update the patient’s schedule if necessary. MyMedSchedule Plus is available for Android and iOS devices.
7. MyTherapy
This app tracks and reminds users to take needed medications. It can also let family members and caregivers know when the user has missed a dose, giving them an extra reminder. The app tracks overall health and lets users print the information to share with their doctors. MyTherapy is available on Google Play and the App Store.
8. Cancer.Net Mobile
This free app was developed with cancer patients in mind by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. It gives patients access to a complete set of resources during their cancer treatment. Users can track their medications, store questions they may want to ask their healthcare team, and track symptoms related to their care. They can share all data collected with the app with the healthcare team. Cancer.Net Mobile is available for Android and iOS devices.
9. RoundHealth
While this app may have fewer features than the others, some users may prefer its streamlined interface. Users can set a time frame for when they want to receive notifications. A handy calendar feature helps keep track of missed doses. While the app doesn’t appear to have been updated recently, RoundHealth is available for iOS devices.
Other methods to consider
Not everyone will feel comfortable using a drug tracking app. It’s important to find a method that works best for you to help you stay on a routine schedule with your medications. While the various app stores have many drug tracking options to consider, you may want to skip the smartphone route. These options take a technology-free approach to help you track your medications:
- Form a routine: Take your pills when you do another activity, such as when you have breakfast. Check with your doctor or pharmacist whether you can take the pills with food.
- Set the alarm on your watch: It may be that a simple alarm that goes off reminds you to take your pills. Make sure you don’t ignore the alarm when you hear it.
- Start a medicine diary: You can use a calendar or small notebook to record the date, time, and medication you took. A diary can also keep track of when you take your pills for when you go to see your doctor.
Patients have different methods of keeping track of medication schedules. For many, an app may be the easiest and most useful. With many different apps to choose from, there’s bound to be one that’s right for you.