Not all medicines can be used in a reminder box. Some medicines will deteriorate when exposed to the air.
If you're not sure - ask your local pharmacist (chemist) for advice.
Generally, the following types of medicines should NOT be used in medication reminders:
- Dispersible or effervescent medicines - those which dissolve in water or in your mouth
- Medicines which are not tablets or capsules - such as suppositories, liquids, powders etc
- Medicines which need special temperature storage - such as keeping in the fridge
- Medicines whose original container contains a drying agent or sachet - this indicates that the medicine will be unstable if exposed to moisture in the air
- Medicines with cytotoxic potential - those which can be harmful if handled and may be cancer-causing
Most medicines will cope very well with being in a compartment for a few days, and a medication reminder gives you the benefits of fully complying with your medicine instructions.
Problems with cutting or crushing tablets
If you have to take a large tablet, it can sometimes be difficult to get down, or make you gag. Many people crush their tablets, but before you do this, ask your pharmacist about it first.
Some medicines are designed as ‘slow release’ or ‘modified release’, which means, as it says, the dose is released slowly over a period of time in your body. If you crush these, you could get the whole dose at once, which may give you side effects.
Tablet crushers are available from this site, but do check first if it’s ok to do this to your tablets, before you decide.
Another option is to explain to your doctor that you can’t take them and ask if there’s another form, such as a liquid. Most medicines come in a variety of different makes, and another may suit you better. | 
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