Automatic medication dispensers are electronic devices that automatically dispense medications at scheduled times throughout the day. They’re beneficial for people with chronic health conditions requiring multiple medications and for those with cognitive impairments who need help remembering to take their medications. This article will focus on the benefits of these devices for medication management.
Types of medicine organizers and dispensers
There are various types of pill organizers available to help individuals manage their medications. Traditionally, pill organizers have come in plastic containers with individual compartments for medications. Weekly and monthly pill organizers are the most common, with compartments for each day of the week and month, respectively. There are also organizers capable of storing multiple doses, which are useful for people who take medications more than once per day. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of automatic pill dispensers.
These devices help streamline the management of medications by automatically dispensing your medication when it’s due. Below are some of the pros and cons of smart pill dispensers versus traditional pill organizers.
Smart pill dispensers
Below are some benefits of smart pill dispensers and considerations to keep in mind before purchasing one of these devices.
Traditional pill organizers
Traditional pill organizers are still commonly used to organize medications. Some of their advantages and disadvantages are listed below.
10 benefits of automatic medication dispensers
Automatic medication dispensers have many other advantages over traditional pill organizers. Ten important benefits are listed below.
1. Medication adherence
If you have a complex medication regimen, you may experience challenges taking your medication as prescribed. Automatic medicine dispensers can be programmed to align with your medication schedule. This will help ensure that you receive the right dose of medication at the right time and decrease missed doses.
2. Safety
Certain devices can be locked. A passcode or key may be required to access the medication when it’s not automatically dispensed. This might be helpful if you need to keep medications away from children and pets. This can also prevent unauthorized individuals from tampering with your medications.
3. Less medication errors
Automatic pill dispensers reduce medication errors by ensuring the right medication is dispensed at the right time. This reduces the risk of someone taking the wrong dose of medicine at the wrong time and is especially helpful to individuals with multi-dose regimens. Devices with reminders help individuals remember to take their medication, reducing the likelihood of medication errors related to missed doses.
4. Alarms and reminders
You may want to obtain a pill dispenser with an alarm for the elderly who may have trouble remembering to take their medications. Several auto pill dispensers on the market have alarms to help remind you to take your pills. Some devices have a flashing light, make sounds, or even use vibrations as notifications.
5. Refill and stocking ease
Some dispensers track usage and provide alerts notifying users when the medication supply is low. This can remind users to obtain medication refills from the pharmacy to ensure medications are re-stocked appropriately.
6. Optimized caregiver time
Some individuals, especially seniors, may rely on caregivers such as friends or family members to assist them with their medications. Assisting with medication management can be time-consuming, especially for those who take medications multiple times a day. Automating medication management can allow caregivers to focus on other patient care responsibilities and decrease their burden.
7. Portable
Frequent travelers and individuals spending extended periods of time away from home may need to carry their medications with them. While some medication devices are designed for use on countertops, smaller, portable options available on the market are easy to transport and carry.
8. Large storage capacity
Medications can be kept secure within an automatic pill dispenser. Some dispensers can store several weeks of medication. Even if you take some medications multiple times per day, you may be able to store two to three weeks of medication in your device, depending on the dispenser. Some dispensers also have large compartments, which means you can store large pills that may not fit in a traditional pill organizer with smaller compartments. It's important to note that automatic pill dispensers are designed to store pills such as tablets or capsules that can be kept at room temperature. You typically cannot store liquid medications or medications that need to be refrigerated in an automatic pill dispenser.
9. Increased independence
Since medications are dispensed from the device, you don’t have to worry about needing assistance opening pill bottles. This is especially helpful for people with dexterity issues or chronic conditions that may limit their hand movements and strength.
10. Cost-effective
Automatic pill dispensers can cost a lot upfront but will likely save you money over time by ensuring that you take the right medications at the right time. Medication compliance ultimately helps prevent hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to medications.
Importance of automatic pill dispensers for the elderly
When it comes to managing medications, seniors face a variety of challenges. They may have numerous chronic health problems that require them to take several medications a day, making it difficult to keep track of them. Additionally, if they live alone, they may struggle to remember to take their medications or have difficulty opening and managing multiple pill bottles.
Automatic pill dispensers can alleviate many of these challenges due to their various functions and capabilities. They offer more tailored solutions compared to traditional pill organizers, such as the ability to personalize medication schedules, set reminders, and program medication adjustments based on changes in your regimen. Some devices also allow for remote monitoring, which allows caregivers to monitor and track medication adherence and intervene early, if needed, to prevent missed doses.
While traditional pill organizers help with medication management, automatic pill dispensers offer more features and functionality to help streamline the medication use process. Newer devices will likely have the ability to integrate within electronic health records and utilize sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor the medication adherence behaviors of patients. As the aging population continues to grow, these devices will play an important role in improving health outcomes for individuals with chronic health conditions.
FAQ
Are automatic pill dispensers easy to set up?
Yes, most automatic pill dispensers are easy to program. Each device should come with instructions on set up, and many devices have large buttons and screens to help with setup and use. Once programmed, the devices usually do not have to be programmed again until your medication regimen changes.
How do smart pill dispensers work for seniors?
With their wide range of capabilities and technology, smart medication dispensers simplify medication management for seniors. They can help older adults better adhere to their medication regimen. Features such as pre-built medication schedules, refill alerts, reminders, and alarms may make them less likely to miss doses, which can improve medication adherence.
Why should someone use an automatic pill dispenser?
Medication adherence is a major health issue. More than half of patients do not take their medications as prescribed. One reason you should use an automatic pill dispenser is to improve adherence to your medication regimen. This dispenser will allow you to store your pills securely in one location and dispense your medications exactly when you need to take them.
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Automatic medication dispensers offer many benefits for managing medications. They are useful for managing complex medication regimens and can help improve medication safety.
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Automatic pill dispensers are specifically beneficial for seniors who have issues remembering to take their medications or need help organizing their pills.
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As technology advances, automatic medication dispensers will be more customizable and personalized to an individual's lifestyle and behaviors to help meet their needs.
5 resources
- Canadian Pharmacists Journal. A review of features and characteristics of smart medication adherence products.
- Journal of Medical Internet Research - Aging. Key features of smart medication adherence products: updated scoping review.
- Patient Preference and Adherence. Electronic smart blister packages to monitor and support medication adherence: a usability study.
- International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. Review on artificial intelligence (AI) in drug dispensing and drug accountability.
- GoodRx. What’s the best way to organize your pills?
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