Updated April 03, 2015.

Remembering to take your asthma medication can be difficult. In fact many people with asthma fail to take their medication regularly. The following tips can help you to remember to take your asthma medication:

• Put a note to yourself reminding you to take your medication next to a favorite photo of you with family or friends.
• Keep your medicine on the night stand right next to your bed or some other place you know you will be in the morning. I have had patients successfully use the coffe maker or tooth brush as triggers to help in remembering to take their asthma medication. What you pick does not really matter as long as it works for you. Patients might best remember a twice per day medication if they put their it next to a tooth brush (assuming you brush your teeth twice per day here) or a once a day medication next to your ceral box (assuming you only eat cereal once per day).

• Put fluroescent sticky notes in promient places to remember to take your mediation. Again almost any place will do as long as you will see the note and have your medication available. I have had patients do all of the following succesfully:
  • Refrigerator
  • Ice maker
  • Back door
  • Cabinent
  • Key rack
  • Bulletin board
  • Mirror
    

There’s An App For That

There are a whole host of apps and reminder services that you can use to help remember to take your medication.

One of the simplest is to simply set a daily alarm for you to remember to take your medication. If you have multiple medications you can even set a differet alarm for each. A number of other apps are available:

• RxmindMe Prescription. This iphone app uses multitasking to remind you when it is time to take a medication.
• MedCoach. Sets off an alarm when it is time for you to take your medication. It additionally tells you when it is time to renew you medication. Availble on the iPhone.
• Medisafe Medication Planner. This Android app will remind you to take your medication even if it is asleep and also tells you when it is time to renew your prescription.

• Text Reminders. Services like RememberItNow, OnTimeRx, and MyMedSchedule can also text you when it is time to take your medication.
  

  Other Medication Reminder Strategies

  If you are not glued to your phone, there are other strategies you can employ:
• Email. There are a number of free email reminder services that will allow you to schedule reminders to your self. SugaredSpoon is one example.
• Buddy system. Find friend that is also on daily asthma or other medication and arrange a call or text as a reminder to take your medication.
• Ask a friend. Ask a friend, child, or grandchild to call you everyday as a reminder. It is a great way to stay connected and little ones love to fell like they are being helpful.
• Use a pillbox. Less helpful for your ashma inhaler, but may be useful if you are on some sort of allergy medication like Singulair.

While all of the startegies mentioned here have worked for my patients or patients of my colleagues, the real question is what will work for you? Spend some time thinking about what you think will work. The best plan is the one that will work for you. Consider why you have trouble taking your meds, try a strategy that you think will work, and stick with that plan.