How to Organize Your Medications Like a Pro

If you’re finding your home full of scattered medication bottles and boxes, it might be time to get organized. Keeping your medications neat and categorized helps avoid mix-ups and can also help you remember to take them.

Below, we’ll discuss eight pharmacist-backed tips to get organized and make keeping up with your medications a little easier.

1. Gather all of your medications and put them in one place

If you have medications in different places throughout your home, gather them all and put them in one place so you can begin organizing. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and herbs and supplements.

2. Make sure you know what each medication is for

Go through each medication, and make sure you know what it’s for. This is a good time to create or update your personal medication list.

If you’re unsure, give your pharmacist or healthcare provider a call. You might be holding on to a medication you aren’t taking anymore. Or your dose might have changed, leaving you with two different doses of the same medication. Your healthcare team can help clear up any confusion.

Divide your medications into the ones you take every day (like blood pressure or diabetes medications) and the ones you only take as needed (like some allergy or migraine medications). And make sure you’ve added everything to your current medication list. 

Set aside any medications you’re no longer taking for safe disposal — more on that later.

3. Check the expiration date on each medication

Check the expiration date on each bottle or package of medication. If a medication is expired, it’s no longer considered safe to take. So add any expired medications to your pile for disposal. But first, make sure you have a more recent bottle on hand. If you don’t, now is the time to contact your pharmacy or healthcare provider for a refill.

If you find expired OTC medications you take often, add them to your shopping list. Then add the expired medication to the disposal pile.

4. Dispose of any expired or unused medication

Once you’ve collected any expired or leftover medication, it’s time to safely dispose of them. You can find a local drop-off location at DisposeMyMeds.org. You can also dispose of your medications by participating in a medication Take Back Day.

If you prefer to get rid of your medications at home, you can do so safely by removing them from the bottle and mixing them with old coffee grounds or cat litter. You can then throw them away in your home garbage.

Don’t forget: It’s best to remove or mark out any personal information on the label before you throw away your empty prescription bottles.

5. Organize the medications you currently take

Your approach to organizing your medications may depend on how much space you have and who else in your household has medications.

If there are multiple people or pets in your house who take medications, there are some different things you can do so they don’t get mixed up with yours.

• Assign each person or pet a color, and mark the bottles with that color.

• Use colored rubber bands or stickers to mark each person’s medications.

• Store each person’s medications in a different area.

OTC medications that multiple people take can go in a separate, central location.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to organize your personal medications. Here are some different methods to try:

• Group your medications based on when you take them or what you take them for.

• Consider a daily, weekly, or monthly pill box.

• Some pharmacies can package your medications in blister packs. Each blister pack has the pills in it for the day and time they need to be taken. Consider calling your pharmacy to see if they offer that service.

6. Choose the best place to store your medications (hint: it’s not your bathroom medicine cabinet)

Now that you’re organized, it’s time to decide where to store your medications. A good place is cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. Your bathroom can get hot and humid, so it’s usually not the best choice. A kitchen cabinet that’s away from the stovetop or oven often works well.

It’s also a good idea to keep your medications out of reach of children or pets — even if they’re just occasional visitors to your home. For added safety, you may choose to use a medication safe to keep medications inaccessible to anyone but you.

7. Restock any OTC medications or supplies

Now is a good time to stock up on OTC medications or medication-related supplies. For example, if you are taking insulin, you may need more syringes or pen needles. If you’re using any injectable medications, you may need a new sharps container.

It’s also a good time to check your first-aid supplies, like bandages, tweezers, and antibiotic ointment. You may also want to keep gauze pads, an ice pack, and an ACE bandage on hand.

Finally, think of the upcoming season and any OTC medication needs you may have. Is allergy season approaching? Or is it cold and flu season again? Add any supplies, first-aid products, and OTC medications to your shopping list to make sure you have everything you need.

8. Repeat the process every 3 to 6 months

It’s a good idea to go through this process at least twice a year. You should also do this any time your healthcare provider makes changes to your medications.

It may be useful to go through your medications more often, since your OTC needs may change with each season. This will help you stay stocked and prepared for any possible healthcare needs.

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Written by:

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA, has been a pharmacist for 12 years. His first job was floating in a community chain pharmacy.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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