KEEPING COUNT OF INHALED MEDICINE

[morningstar]

How do I keep track of how much medicine I've used?
It's important to keep track of how much medicine you've used so you can plan ahead and replace your inhaler before you run out of medicine. One way to do this is to write a refill date on the canister itself. Use the following method to figure out when you'll need to get a refill:
Start with a brand new inhaler. Divide the number of puffs in the canister--the canister will usually have this number printed on it--by the number of puffs you take each day. The number you get will be the number of days the canister should last. (For example, if you take 4 puffs each day from a 200-puff canister, you will need to have a new canister every 50 days.)
Using a calendar, count forward that many days to see when your medicine will run out. So you won't run out of the medicine that you use every day, choose a day 1 or 2 days before this date to have your prescription refilled.
Using a permanent marker, write the refill date on the canister, and on your calendar.
If you use your inhaler for rescue medicine, you probably won't be using it regularly enough for this method to work. In that case, ask your doctor if he or she will write a prescription for two inhalers at a time. Then get your prescription filled when the first inhaler is empty. This way, you'll always have enough rescue medicine on hand when you need it most.

[larrynz]

I never have less than 1 months supply of all my meds in the house.

[LindaNY]

Generally I have a 90 day supply of meds on hand. It saves money on my co payments. One 20% co pay for three months is better than a 20% copay monthly.

What I do is write the date and number of puffs I use the first day and then, since I know how many I generally use, just keep track.

[morningstar]

Personaly I don't use any inhalers myself. But while reading today. I found this and thought it might be helpful to someone that doesn't have a clue. I wish I could keep a extra supply of my medicine here but the doctors are funny about it and the drug stores are worse. I so try and keep Antibiotics around. And with Dr. Saludes it isn't a problem. And he has been know to over ride the drug store over allowing me to do this. But I see and hear of so many that are going days sometime without meds. I hoped this would help.
And we all know when we are new to this stuff. We tend to get confused on what to do with what.

Happy Trails

[cocojax]

I'm very lucky that I have a good drug plan through where I used to work, carries on because I am on Long Term Disability. When my Dr. orders my Meds he gives me a 6 month supply, and my drugstore is right around the corner, so if I need to they will deliver and they submit the bill to my insurance company, when I get the direct deposit from my insurance company I pay them by telephone banking, so it really works out good. It usually comes in 3 packs, 3 ventolin, 3 spiriva, 3 singulair and 3 advair ( I love the new advair with the counter on it). 1 Antibiotic for emergency.