Become a Patient

Tips for Managing Your COPD Medications

The basic idea behind all the following suggestions for managing your COPD medications is that you need to develop a good system, and then you need to make that system a routine. You’re an individual, so your system should be individualized. Read the following suggestions, and then use whichever ones best work for you. If you’re still having a hard time managing your medications, then ask your doctor for more suggestions, and involve the people in your life who love and care for you.

  • Combine taking your medications with other routines or habits. For instance, keep your morning and evening medications next to your toothbrush. Then, in the morning and at bedtime, take you medications before you brush your teeth.
  • If you have to take pills at various times throughout the day and you find yourself getting distracted and forgetting, invest in a writwatch with an alarm, or you can use a cooking timer. Then, set it for each of scheduled medication times.
  • Get a pillbox with sections for the different days of the week and even different times during each day. This way you can plan out a week’s worth of medication at a time and will be able to see if you miss any doses.
  • If you have trtouble organizing your pillbox, ask for help – from a family member, a friend, or someone in your doctor’s office.
  • If you find yourself frequently missing mediation doses, keep a diary of when that happens. Then bring it in to your doctor so the two of you can work at finding a solution.
  • Keep a day’s-worth of pills with you at all times so that if something unexpected comes up when you’re away from home you’ll be able to stick to your medication schedule.
  • If some of your medications cause unpleasant side effects, let your doctor know. Maybe by changing the dose the side effects can be relieved, or maybe the medication can be changed.
  • If you’re not sure you’re taking your medications correctly, or if you think your inhalers aren’t working, ask you doctor or respiratory therapist.
  • When traveling, keep all of your medications with you in your carry-on bag.

Note: This information is provided to you as an educational service of National Jewish Health. It is not meant to be a substitute for consulting with your own physician.

© Copyright 2008 National Jewish Health