If you frequently forget to take medicines on time, Apple Health’s new medication reminders might be for you. With the iOS 16 update, Apple announced a new Apple Health add-on that helps you schedule all medications to track them in one place. Here’s how you can set medication reminders in Apple Health.
Whether you take one prescription medication or five, keeping track of what you take and when is essential. Apple Health can also help you remember when you took your last dose and when it’s time for your next. While there are many third-party medication reminder apps, this is the first time Apple has integrated the same into the Health app.
Set Up Medication Reminders
You can either use your phone camera or manually search to add medications. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open the Apple Health app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Move to the ‘Browse’ tab.
Step 3: Select the Medications menu.
Step 4: Tap ‘Add Medication.’
Step 5: Enter the medications name and hit ‘Next.’
Step 6: Choose medication type (capsule, tablet, liquid, topical, cream, etc.) and tap ‘Next.’
Step 7: Add the medication strength. You can add it in mg, mcg, g, ml, or % and tap ‘Next.’
Step 8: Set frequency and time of day to receive a notification to take your medications.
For settings up the frequency, you have three options to choose from.
- At regular intervals
- On specific days of the week
- As needed
You can also add multiple intervals for a day to take medications.
Step 9: If you have selected tablet type, Apple Health will ask you to choose the shape. You can skip this step if you want.
Step 10: Choose tablet color from the following menu. You can also customize the icon background.
Step 11: Review the medicine name, frequency, and schedule, and add other optional details.
That’s it. Apple will add medication to your account. You can repeat the same steps above and add more medicines to your account. Apple Health is intelligent enough to warn you about medications that cause side effects. At times, taking certain medications together can backfire. When you add a new medication, you will receive an alert if there is a critical interaction. You can use the Health app to review vital, serious, and moderate interactions.
Log Medication Intake
You will receive an alert from taking medication at a set time. Long-tap the notification and log all as taken, skipped, or ask Apple Health to remind in ten minutes. You can log the same from the Apple Health app.
Step 1: Launch Apple Health app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Go to the Medications tab.
Step 3: Select your medication. Tap ‘Log’ from the following menu.
Add Medications in Apple Health Summary
If you frequently need to check medications in Apple Health, you should add it to the Summary tab. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Apple Health app on iPhone.
Step 2: The Summary tab shows all your favorite activities. Tap Edit.
Step 3: Move to the ‘All’ tab. Scroll to Medications and hit the star icon beside it.
Step 4: Tap ‘Done’ in the top-right corner.
Medications will appear under the favorites menu.
Export Medication List as PDF
You can easily export your medication list as PDF and share it with friends and family. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Launch Apple Health app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Open the Medication menu. Scroll and select ‘Export Medications List PDF.’
Step 3: Check your name, birth date, age, and current medications name, type, and intake.
Step 4: Hit the share button in the top right corner and share the PDF document via the iOS share sheet.
Archive Medications
You can’t completely delete any medication from the list. However, you can archive medications that you no longer need.
Step 1: Open the Medications tab in Apple Health (refer to the steps above).
Step 2: Select the ‘Edit’ button beside your medications.
Step 3: Tap the archive button and remove it from the list.
What About Your Medication Data
Apple states that when your iPhone is locked with Touch ID or Face ID, the system automatically encrypts your health data (including your Medical ID). Since 2FA (two-factor authentication) is enabled for your Apple account, even Apple can’t read health and activity data synced to iCloud.
Take Your Medications on Time
The new Apple Health app with a medication add-on is crucial for those who would like notifications and prompts for taking their medicines on time. Also, you won’t have to rely on third-party apps to get reminders. The app also offers educational content to give more context on medications you take. You can check what the medication is used for, how it works, and potential side effects to discuss with your doctor or a certified health professional.
