Medication

• Ask your pharmacist to use non-childproof bottles for your medications so that they are easier to open, and to use large print on instruction labels
• Use a pill box with compartments for each day of the week
• A timer can help you remember when medications are due
• Keep a medication record to help you and your doctor monitor your responses to medications. See the Guide to Living with Parkinson's Disease: Medication Record  for a sample record sheet
• Keep a copy of your medication record with you at all times in case of unforeseen situations
• Ask your carer or a friend to accompany you to the doctor or nurse for medicine reviews, as it can be difficult to remember everything that is said
• Take extra medication with you when you go out in case you are delayed returning home
• If climbing out of bed is a struggle, keep your morning dose of medication on your night-stand. You may also like to keep some biscuits nearby if the medication causes nausea
• If swallowing pills is difficult, try taking them with a spoonful of pureed fruit or yoghurt instead of water. Also ask your doctor or nurse if your pills can be crushed or dissolved in water, or if they are available in a liquid or injectable form.