STORM LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) -
For some medications, taking them at certain times or intervals is extremely important in how they work. If you have a hard time remembering to take your meds, a new timer can help you keep track.
As a pharmacist, counting out the right amount of medication is a vital part of Karen Sedlacek's job. After that, Sedlacek counts on you to do the rest.
"If you don't take your medication as the doctor ordered, you aren't going to have the health outcomes and if you don't have good health outcomes, you are going to have more visits to the doctor and you are going to have more hospitalizations," says Sedlacek. "Our goal basically is to make you more healthy."
To achieve that goal, Thrifty White Drug Stores, like the one in Storm Lake, Iowa, has a new tool to help you.
It's called the Rx Timer Cap. It goes on top of your pill bottle and shows you when to take your medication.
"It's a smart cap that basically gives you a digital display of the hours and the minutes since the last time that you opened the bottle," says Sedlacek.
And it's easy to use. There's no clock to program or alarm to set.
"You just have to take the lid off and you're ready to go," says Sedlacek.
The timer then re-sets to zero and starts counting again.
"For example, if you take your medication every 12 hours when the top of this says 12, then it's time to take your medication again," says Sedlacek.
The caps are free for customers who sign up for automatic refills or $2 for those who don't.
"You'll use it again and again, month after month, so it's very affordable," says Sedlacek.
The Rx Timer Cap may also help train your internal clock, so it becomes second nature to put your health first.
Just how effective are the Rx Timer Caps?
A study showed a 30 percent improvement in people taking the right dose of their medications at the right time.
For more information, go to the Rx Timer Cap at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9818593.htm.
Thrifty White Drug Stores are now offering the Rx Timer Cap to customers.
