A med tracker is only as good as what you put in it. For each medication, the details that matter most are the name and strength exactly as on the label, the real time you take it, the schedule, a dose window and your current supply. Get those five right and reminders, logs and refill warnings all work. Most other fields are nice to have.

When you first open a med tracker, the add-medication screen can look like a form at the doctor's. It does not need to be. This guide goes through the common fields one at a time, says which ones to fill in now and which can wait, and points out the small mistakes that cause trouble later.

The essentials

Name

Use the name on the pharmacy label. If the label has both a brand name and the active ingredient, add both if the app allows, or put one in the name and one in the notes. That way, you will recognise it whether the next pack is the same brand or a different one.

Strength and form

Copy the strength exactly as printed, unit and all: "500 mg", "25 mcg", "1,000 IU", "200/6 mcg". Note the form too: tablet, capsule, liquid, inhaler, patch. The difference between mg and mcg is a factor of a thousand, so check it twice. Our guide to IU vs mg on labels explains the units.

How much each time

One tablet, two tablets, half a tablet, 5 mL, two puffs. This is what the reminder will tell you, so make it match the label exactly.

Schedule

Pick the pattern that matches your instructions:

  • Every day, at one or more times
  • Specific days, such as Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Every few days, such as every other day
  • Monthly, on a set date
  • On and off cycles, such as 21 days on and 7 off
  • Every few hours, from your first dose of the day
  • As needed, with no reminders
  • Tapering, where the amount changes on set dates

If you are not sure which one your label means, ask your pharmacist. Our guide to every other day and Mon/Wed/Fri schedules explains the most common mix-up.

Time

Enter the time you actually take it, not the time you think you should. If you take your morning tablets at 7:40 most days, set 7:40. A reminder that fires before you are ready gets ignored.

Very useful

Dose window

A dose window is a range around the set time where a dose still counts as on time. It stops an ordinary late morning from looking like a missed dose. Choose a range that suits the medication and your life; your pharmacist can tell you how much flexibility a medication has. Our explainer on what a dose window is has more.

Supply

Enter how many you have now and how many come in a new pack. The tracker counts down as you log and warns you before you run out. It takes a minute and is worth it. See our refill reminder guide.

Follow-up reminders

Usually a setting for all medications rather than each one. Turn it on. It is the single most useful reminder feature.

Useful for some people

  • Priority. Some apps let you mark a medication that must not be missed, so it stands out.
  • Alerts that sound through silent mode. On iPhone, an app can ask permission for Critical Alerts, which sound even when the phone is on silent. Use it only for a medication where a missed reminder really matters, or you will learn to tune it out.
  • Spacing and daily cap, for as-needed medication.
  • Colour or icon, to tell similar medications apart at a glance.
  • Instructions, such as "with food" or "on an empty stomach", if they are not obvious to you.

Can wait

  • Prescriber and pharmacy. Handy for appointments, but not needed for reminders.
  • Start date and reason. Helpful for your history, and for a new doctor. Add it when you have a moment.
  • Cost. Some trackers can record what a medication costs you. Useful for budgeting, not essential.
  • Notes. Repeats left on your script, storage instructions or anything your pharmacist told you.

Mistakes that cause trouble later

  • Setting today as the start date for a cycle. For on/off or every-other-day schedules, the start date should be the first day of the current pack or your last dose.
  • Two entries for the same medication. You get double reminders and a confusing log.
  • Forgetting to update after a change. A new dose or brand should be updated the same day.
  • Deleting a stopped medication. Pause or finish it instead, so its history is kept.

Check your list with a pharmacist

Once everything is in, show the list to your pharmacist. They can catch a wrong strength, a duplicate or an interaction. Five minutes at the counter is the best quality check a med tracker can get.

Setting up in Cadence

Cadence covers all of the above. You can add a medication by hand or scan the pharmacy label with your camera to fill in the details, then check them. It supports every schedule listed here, adjustable dose windows, follow-up reminders, supply tracking, Priority medication, per-medication Critical Alerts, as-needed spacing and caps, colours and notes. Stopped medications can be marked finished and their history is kept. Unlimited medications are free, with no account.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to set up?

A few minutes per medication. Start with your daily ones and add the rest over the week.

What if I take the same medication at two strengths?

Add each strength as its own entry, so each reminder says exactly what to take.

Should I enter vitamins and supplements?

Yes. They belong on the list your pharmacist and doctor see.

Cadence is a free medication reminder app for iPhone and Apple Watch. It is not medical software and does not give medical advice. Cadence Pro is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.