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Original poster

DS unreliable at taking daily medication-any tips please?

11 replies

ShredderQueen · 01/03/2026 10:25

TL;DR how to increase reliability of ADHD 17yo at taking daily medication

DS (17y) has an underactive thyroid. Plus ADHD (not severe but impacts on executive function).

He has to take daily medication, ideally first thing. Doesn't have to be mornings, but as food/drink can inhibit uptake it is recommended.

He has had to take this since 10yo. And is potentially off to Uni in September.

Is reliability at taking it is not great. Yet again this morning I could see from his pill dispenser he did not take yesterday's dose. Despite me checking with him yesterday evening..he said he had when I asked him...Same as Wednesday...

He has a daily pill dispenser so it is visible/clear if he has or hasn't taken it.

We have tried this being in the bathroom -so visible when doing teeth either first thing, or later if he has forgotten.
We have tried it on his bedside table.

Holidays and weekends are worse as different routine. Getting him to follow a routine also interesting...

I am guilty of always reminding him.

I am now threatening to reduce his allowance each time he forgets...but not sure this is the answer (at wit' end).

Does anyone have any suggestions or experiences of what works please?

OP posts:
Fearfulsaints · 01/03/2026 10:27

Can he set a reminder on his phone and link to something he does remember each day like 'pants on take pills' pants n pills

Coffeeishot · 01/03/2026 10:29

Cant he set a reminder on his phone ? Or if you have a family chat group just remind him daily,

justasoul · 01/03/2026 10:35

If he has an iPhone, in the health app there’s a medicine reminder - it will remind you twice and you can also set the second alert to be a “critical alert”, it will sound an alarm as well as show a reminder. I’m sure there will be similar on android or third party apps that will do that.

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justasoul · 01/03/2026 10:36

On a personal experience level, I also take thyroxine and I have the tablets and a water bottle on my bedside table, I take mine before I get out of bed.

Coffeeishot · 01/03/2026 10:39

justasoul · 01/03/2026 10:35

If he has an iPhone, in the health app there’s a medicine reminder - it will remind you twice and you can also set the second alert to be a “critical alert”, it will sound an alarm as well as show a reminder. I’m sure there will be similar on android or third party apps that will do that.

Yes samsung health has reminders.

likelysuspect · 01/03/2026 10:41

I put alarms on my phone. Still not failsafe to be honest, it just goes out of my head. I might be somewhere where I cant quite get to my meds (I have several throughout the day) so aim to get up and get them 'in a minute' and before you know it, the next alarm is going off several hours later for the next one and Ive forgotton to take the one before!!

Original poster
ShredderQueen · 01/03/2026 21:11

Thank you for the suggestions. I may look into an app and suggest it to him.

Have also said we will keep a running tally of him taking it - and every week he takes it without a reminder for 7 days on the trot he will get £7 extra in his allowance....but if he forgets the tally will reset to zero.

I just want to be comfortable he has more of a handle on this before he leaves home!

Does anyone else have anything that worked when DC left home?

OP posts:
Original poster
ShredderQueen · 01/03/2026 21:13

justasoul · 01/03/2026 10:36

On a personal experience level, I also take thyroxine and I have the tablets and a water bottle on my bedside table, I take mine before I get out of bed.

Me too - and this is what I have tried to explain to DS. And the fact that if my morning routine skips this for any reason (being woken by the postman for example) and I don't take it as I sit up/first wake up - then those are the days I may forget mine.

OP posts:
Appleandcidergravy · 01/03/2026 21:16

For my hubby we have daily text reminders- there are a few apps that will send automatic daily messages at an agreed time- with alarms on his phone and the Alexa reminds him...
We also do tablet boxes- the rainbow coloured ones are best for his brain. ..
*ADHD, autism and 2 brain injuries means he struggles with short term memory....

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 01/03/2026 21:18

I’m a great believer in unmissable prompts, because I too forget such things. Can he keep them in his underwear drawer on top of his undies? In his shoe? On top of closed the loo seat? I keep my hormone cream on the laundry basket in front of the loo- it’s where I am last thing at night!

Back in the day when the tooth fairy was due, I’d put the £1 coin in my bra as soon as I learned I’d need it. At bedtime it would hit the floor and bounce around, remind8ng me what I needed to do.

justasoul · 01/03/2026 21:32

ShredderQueen · 01/03/2026 21:13

Me too - and this is what I have tried to explain to DS. And the fact that if my morning routine skips this for any reason (being woken by the postman for example) and I don't take it as I sit up/first wake up - then those are the days I may forget mine.

Show quote history

Yes, that’s why I also use the app to log my meds - I also added the widget to the Home Screen so it’s there on my face if I’ve forgotten (sometimes I just forget to log it, but it makes me think back and see if anything happen and I didn’t actually take the meds).
This is what it looks like when my phone is locked.

DS unreliable at taking daily medication-any tips please?
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