And if you're on thyroid hormone replacement drugs because you're hypothyroid, or have had all or part of your thyroid removed or disabled using radioactive iodine, or you are taking antithyroid drugs to control hyperthyroidism, your continued health depends on taking the prescribed thyroid drugs daily, as prescribed by your doctor.
Even a day or two's failure to take thyroid medications can throw off your treatment regimen, cause fluctuations in your TSH level and symptoms, and have a dramatic effect on your overall health. That is why it is critical that you remember to take your thyroid medicine daily - and ideally at the same time(s) every day, as recommended by your doctor.
Here are some tips on how to remember to take your thyroid medication.
- Write it in your datebook. Write it in a special color that is hard to miss.
- Since you're reading this on a computer, consider putting your reminder in your computer's scheduling program. Some programs allow you to set a regular daily "appointment" at a particular time. Some even have an alarm function that you can set to remind you.
- Put a message on your computer's screen saver.
- Keep your thyroid drug pill container right on top of your alarm clock, so you can remember to take your medicine first thing in the morning. (But be careful to keep your medications away from children.)
- Put a note wherever you'll notice it every day - on the refrigerator, on your coffee maker, on your toothbrush, on your bathroom vanity mirror.
- Take your medicine the same time every day, so it becomes a habit.
- Hire a calling service to give you a daily "wakeup" call to remind you to take your pill. If you have a home voicemail system such as "AnswerCall," you can even program a daily reminder call at the same time each day. You can even sign up online for a free service online, like "Mr Wakeup," which will make free reminder calls to you.
- Use a pill sorter, or a device known as a "dosette," which has compartments for different days, or even different times of the day.
- Get a special device to remind you to take your pill. Epill.com offers a variety of devices, including medication computers, vibrating watches, automatic dispensers, beepers, and other alarms that can help keep you on schedule for taking your medication.
- Enlist the aid of a family member of friend to help. Sometimes, just a few weeks of friendly reminders can help you get into the habit of taking your medicine at the right time every day.
