Five New Ways to Remember Your Meds

A lot of people tend to be glued to their smart phones. While the jury is still out on whether that's good or bad for society as a whole, we have five ways that your mobile device or computer can help you stay healthy and on-track with medication, while also keeping tabs on other health-related issues like immunization, insurance records, and doctor's visits. 

App: My Positive Agenda
For: iPhone, Android, Mac, and PC
Cost: Free
Where: HealthyWithHIV.com
Why: Perhaps the best app designed explicitly for people with HIV. Set reminders for taking your meds and learn about symptoms, therapy, and resources. Plus you can record your daily viral load into printable charts.

App: Red Ribbon HIV/AIDS Manager
For: iPhone, iPod, and Android
Cost: $1.99 (Android); $9.99 (iPhone, iPod)
Where: Play.Google.com (Android), iTunes.Apple.com (iPhone)
Why: You can store medical information in a secure virtual safe, including meds, supplements, immunizations, lab tests, health conditions in addition to HIV, family history, allergies, advance directive, organ donor info, and emergency contact number.

App: Dosecast
For: iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Android
Cost: Free, or $3.99 for premium
Where: Dosecast.com
Why: Efficiency. It keeps track of how much medication you have left, sends refill reminders with pharmacy and prescriber info, and logs your overall drug compliance.

App: RXMindMe Prescription/Medicine Reminder and Pill Tracker
For: iPhone, iPod
Cost: Free
Where: RXMind.me
Why: Users can photograph each med and attach it to the name of the pill on the reminder. Bonus: FDA Drug Database is included.

App: MediRemind
For: iPhone
Cost: 99 cents
Where: iTunes.Apple.com
Why: Users can track all doctor, insurance, and referral information, get reminders, and store special instructions that accompany certain medications.