Electronic Pill Dispenser

There are a variety of medication dispensers on the market, but some of the most popular include the following:

Medication alarms.
This first type of device isn't a true "dispenser" but is simply an alarm to remind the person that a dosage is due. The medications are not stored in the device and the alarm generally doesn't tell the individual which medication is due. On the other hand, these devices are small and portable. They perform the function of reminding quite handily. Another device that provides a simple reminder is a talking pill bottle. These simply play a recorded message that explains what a given medications is for and how/when to take it. These simple devices are good for anyone who has difficulty remembering physician or pharmacist instructions.

Electronic pill dispensers that sound an alarm, audible or visual, which notify the person that a dosage is due.
These devices provide a reminder and are great for people who take multiple medications. The device houses the medications and generally makes them available only as they come due. If the device will be used by someone who tends to get confused about whether or not they've taken their medication for the day, then a locked version of these devices is a good choice. These devices can protect individuals from overdosing as well as forgetting their medication.

Automated pill dispensers that not only provide an alarm to remind the individual that a dosage is due, but will notify a designated caregiver if a dosage is missed.
This assure that no dosage is missed. Even if the alarm does not result in the individual taking the dosage, then follow-up by the caregiver should. In most instances, this monitoring is free of charge.

Some of these devices are designed for those who have low vision or hearing loss. The talking pill bottles are great for those who are unable to read labels or written instructions and many of the dispensers provide a vibration alert, flashing light alert, and loud alarm for those with hearing loss.

Although anyone who takes medication might benefit from these automatic pill dispensers, there are those who are considered the target market:

The elderly.
In many instances, the number of medications we take increases as we advance in age. If, or when this happens, an electronic pill dispenser can assure that you achieve and maintain the intended therapeutic level of medication your physician intended. They can help assure that you don't get too much or too little. For many elderly, a simple alarm is all that's needed, but locked dispensers are good when it becomes too difficult to recall which medications are needed at any given time.

Caregivers.
If you are a caregiver/family member who cares for a person who takes multiple medications, these automated dispensers can bring peace of mind and help make your task of caring for someone much easier. Caregivers can merely load the dispenser with the necessary medications each week, every two weeks, or each month, and then allow that individual to handle their own medications. The dispensers that provide monitoring are optimal in these situations as they let you know if a dosage is missed or the dispenser is running low.

People with multiple medications or critical ones
Whether it's a child who needs to remember medication for asthma or diabetes, or an adult who takes anti-seizure medications but finds they sometimes forget, a simply alarm can be exactly what they need. The portable size of the alarms makes them a good choice for these individuals.