I may have screwed up... what to do?

[Magnus]

I usually take my Coumadin at 9 PM. It's 1 AM now and I remembered that I hadn't taken my dose so I took the usual 4 pills for a total of 10 mg. But then I was suddenly unsure if I had in fact taken the pills earlier. So now I'm unsure if I doubled my dose, and may have taken either 10 mg (normal dose) or 20 mg.

Any tips on what to do? Should I hope I took the pills only once and just forget about it?

 

[Ross]

Just continue with your normal schedule. It'll balance out in a week or two if you did. Better to be too high then to be too low.

 

[geebee]

Personally I wouldn't worry about one extra dose as it shouldn't make too much difference. Taking too much is not as dangerous as taking too little - IMHO. However, you should figure out a way not to have this happen again.

 

[Magnus]

Thanks for the replies. I actually have this little pill box which is labelled for each day of the week but felt a bit retarded to have to use it. Think I might start using it now though...

 

[Ross]

Heck I use a box and still get retarded sometimes.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

It's TOO EASY to forget routine things that are done almost automatically.

I use a 7 day pill box AND a 31 day chart for all my pills.

Typically I miss a dose of Coumadin 2 or 3 times a year, usually catching it the next morning. If it's within 12 hours, I just take the missed dose.

If more than 12 hours, I divide the missed dose by 2 or 3 and add that amount to the next 2 or 3 days respectively. By the end of the week, my INR should have settled out.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[ClickerTicker]

I have my palm organiser set to alarm if I don't take my pills and check the entry off. I make it an absolute rule not to check the entry off until I have actually taken the pills. By having two repeating entries, set to repeat on alternate days, I also keep track of doses that need e.g. 7mg one day and 8mg the next. In addition I keep a little database of my pill stock and have a "daily pills used" screen that automatically adjusts the stock. Helps to keep me from running out.

I guess this sounds a bit complicated, but if I had to rely on memory I'd never be quite sure what I'd taken....

 

[Yaps]

I also have a 7 daybox..not for me but for my hubby..but the daily boxes are too small and also he takes clonodine twice a day..didnt want him to take at once as b/p would drop.. so I do this , especially when I end up back in hospital. I got an old egg carton, top row are am pills, lower nights.. this has worked very well, and room for garguantuas like potassium , the monster of all pills. Just my cents worth, love the pup

 

[jeffp]

Use the pill box. It's easy, cheap and it does the job. I refill it after the weekly INR test and make any dose adjusts from there. I too have often thought, "did I take that tonight, or was that last night?". I go check the box and if it's still full, I know that I was remembering last night. I statrted out taking the pills in the morning, but mornings are so hectic here that I would forget until I was out of the house and wind up taking it at night anyway. There's just more hours in the evening to remember to do it.

 

[Magnus]

Yup, I think I've learned my lesson and will rely on the senior citizen-gadget from now on <g>

 

[catwoman]

Magnus:

Yeah, I started thinking "senior citizen" when I got my first 7-day pillbox.

But then I saw how many people of ALL ages keep their meds in some sort of pillbox and I didn't think "senior citizen" any more.

I like Jeff's method of keeping track of his meds -- refilling the box after he does his weekly INR test.

 

[LadyBlue]

Yup, I think I've learned my lesson and will rely on the senior citizen-gadget from now on <g>

Or.....you can get a really cool pillbox like this!

there are many styles and many designs.

http://www.kyledesigns.com/category/13_unique_gifts.pill_boxes/

There's always this....

A vibrarting pill box..woooohoooo!!

More boxes with bells and whistles.

http://www.epill.com/medglider.html

So see? Pill boxes can be cool!

(I forget my pills alot, and last month I accidently doubled my dose.. I'm new on the meds, so I use my senior citizen box all the time. )

 

[Georgia]

OMG!!!! These are just so excellent. It'll take me all day to make a selection. Thanks for adding this link. woo hoo.

 

[Magnus]

Actually, I have one that is about the size of my palm that holds three weeks worth of pills: http://www.apoteket.se/intershoproot/eCS/Store/sv/thumbs/200579l.jpg

Now I only need to get a Coaguchek XS and I'll be able to dose myself 'til kingdom come.

 

[Richnlil2]

Better Safe Than Sorry

Better Safe Than Sorry

I usually take my Coumadin at 9 PM. It's 1 AM now and I remembered that I hadn't taken my dose so I took the usual 4 pills for a total of 10 mg. But then I was suddenly unsure if I had in fact taken the pills earlier. So now I'm unsure if I doubled my dose, and may have taken either 10 mg (normal dose) or 20 mg.

Any tips on what to do? Should I hope I took the pills only once and just forget about it?

I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT IT BUT TO BE SAFE GIVE IT A DAY OR 2 AND HAVE UR INR CHECKED, BUT IT SHOULD BALANCE OUT SHORTLY. I KNOW TAT THE MOST PPL TAKE THE COUMIDAN IN THE PM HOWEVER MY NIGHT TIME I FORGET, SO I HAVE APTED TO TAKE MINE IN THE AM WITH ALL MY OTHER PILLS SO I DONT FORGET U MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT.

 

[Magnus]

I guess that at the very least at 26 I'm a consolation to you older folks who have to also use the pill box, so at least that's something good to come out of it

 

[OldManEmu]

Avoiding Confusion

Avoiding Confusion

LadyBlue there certainly appears to be variety of pill boxes. I always thought they were 7 day yet the one in you attachment is 5 compartment.
rachel_howell I was told by my cardio to bring all my drugs along to each appointment, I found this somewhat embarrassing sitting in the waiting room amongst lots of seniors with their capacious bags of drugs. I now write out a list before I go and take this with me, fortunately it is now a very short list.

 

[Gemma]

Jim's got one that has 7 separate 4-compartment boxes (he only uses 2 compartments - morning and evening - but we can't find one with 2 compartments).

I also bought him a pill-holder keyring off ebay (the seller of the ones in the link does various quantities) - looks like a little silver bullet - he puts the evening's pills into it in the morning so he can take them wherever he is, rather than having to carry around the pill box. It's on his house key so he's always got it with him.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-WaterProof-Pill-Holders-Fob-KeyRing-KeyChain-Box-Drug_W0QQitemZ9526696165QQcategoryZ3193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem