What Is Apple’s New Medications Tracker and How Does It Work?
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Those days-of-the-week pill sorters might soon go the way of your landline, and for the same reason: that phone in your pocket. Apple will be launching a Medications tracker for iPhone and Watch to help people organize their prescription and non-prescription meds, remember to take them, and discover potential drug interactions.
Medications is an app that’ll automatically appear on your phone if you download the iOS 16 update in fall 2022, and it’s also a part of the OS9 update on Watch. There are other free medication tracking apps available, such as top-ranked Medisafe Medication Manager, but Medications will appear within the Health app.
Do tech-based medication trackers solve a real-world difficulty?
Experts say yes: “Medication adherence is a real problem,” says Emily Ferguson, R.N., associate managing editor at MCG. Up to 50% of people don’t take their medications as prescribed, according research in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and 62% of people with chronic conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, forget to take their medicine. There is a body of emerging evidence that points to success with digital tracking reminders, Ferguson says.
Simplifying your pill tracking has other benefits too
“Many people are on so many different medications that it is challenging to keep the names and dosages of their drugs readily available to share with new doctors or if there is an emergency and they have to see a new provider,” Ferguson says. “Having the names and possible interactions stored in their phone and watch is a great tool to prevent people from taking something that might interact with another drug, especially if prescribed a new medication or possibly with a new over-the-counter medicine.”
“For some people, a pill box will still be the best solution,” Jeff Williams, COO of Apple, told Prevention. “But our phones should be able to track medications for us.” It’s very easy to start using Medications and to stick with it, he adds.
How to use the Medications tracker
In the Health app, you’ll be able to browse and select Medications, then start entering the drugs and supplements you take. You can start typing the name to search, or you can take a photo of the medication’s label or box for the app to look up for you.
Next, you’ll indicate how often you take the medication, and can set up reminders if you’d like. If you have an Apple Watch, you’ll be able to get reminders there, and set up your Watch face to see your medication schedule easily.
When you take a medication, you can log it, so that you can easily look back and see your medication history.
Medications allows you to input prescription and OTC meds, as well as vitamins and supplements. When you add a new medication (in the U.S. only), you can receive an alert if there is a critical interaction with medications you’ve already entered. This feature will show you interactions between prescription meds as well as among prescription meds, OTC medications, and many common supplements.
What to keep in mind if you use the tracker
Apple executives explain that your health information is private when you use Medications. “A lot of people think that Apple has a lot of data on them,” says Williams. “But the reality is the data is encrypted on the device.” Here’s what else to know:
Set-up time is worth it. “The more you input into a tracker, the greater picture you might have of your current health habits,” Ferguson says. The Medications app in particular can help you identify interactions better if you take the time to record everything you’re taking.
You can use it to talk to your doctor. While it’s not necessary to get a doctor’s go-ahead before you start using electronic tracking, Ferguson says, it’s always helpful for your doctor to know what tools you use. Medications can be a useful tool to discuss what you’re taking at your next visit.
Your insurance may help. Some plans now cover some fitness watches if you agree to track steps, for instance. While Medications is too new for it to likely be a part of your plan, you can find out if your usage of the Apple Watch falls under your coverage.
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