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Remember, you need to have near-perfect
adherence to your antiretroviral meds in order for them to work. And
if they work, you get a longer, healthier life.
You can do it. Here are some
more
Tips
for Keeping Up With Your Meds
(reprinted
with permission and changes from PROJECT INFORM'S
6-2000 newsletter, What's New )
- Schedule
doses before routine activities
like washing up, meals, or your daily visit to the methadone clinic.
- Make a plan for days that are not
routine days, like weekends, holidays.
- Use a visual chart with stick-on
pictures of your meds to show how many and what time to take each med.
You can get these from your case manager, Linda G. at PCAF, or
Katherine at Infections Ltd.
- Set up a mediset or a series of bowls
or other containers with your meds for the day or week.
When beginning a new regimen, you
can set up a "model" pillbox to copy off of.
Your case manager or Linda or Katherine may be able to help you get a
mediset.
- Use a multiple-alarm watch, a key-ring
beeper, computer alarm, or set your pager, to go off at med times.
When you are just getting started on a new regimen, PCAF may be able
to set you up with a peer medication buddy who will call you or help you
recruit a friend or family member to do this.
- Use post-it notes with reminders to
take your meds. Put them on
doorknobs, bathroom mirror, steering wheel and so on.
- Put your dose for a particular time of
day next to things you use at that same time of day.
Like toothbrush, coffee maker, TV. BUT
do not leave meds where children can
get to them.
- Keep a back-up dose or day's supply of
meds for emergencies in your pack, car, desk and so on.
Observe storage requirements
like temperature. Some meds
must be kept refrigerated. Some
need to be kept at room temperature. All should be kept out of the sun and away from heat. For
questions about storage, etc. ask the pharmacist where you get your
prescription filled. If you need to take meds that have to be refrigerated on
the job, you can use a cooler lunch pack.
If you are having a problem getting one of these, your case manager
or Linda at PCAF may be able to help.
Meds should be "rotated" out of their backup spot on a
weekly basis. You can take
these and replace the backup with fresh meds.
Watch the expiration dates of your meds.
To reach
Project Inform's website, go to http://www.projectinform.org
To reach their hotline, dial
1-800-822-7422