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Many of us live right on the edge of our mental limits. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life we balance our jobs, our families, our fitness, and any other responsibilities we might have. This fast pace can create a lot of mental stress and anxiety that we keep balanced, but just barely. Adding more things, even small things, to our mental plate can be difficult.
One of the keys to overcoming this stress is staying organized. Most people probably know that meal prepping can help you stay on top of your diet, or packing your gym bag.
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A Quick Look at the Pill Organizers
About 66 percent of adults in the U.S. regularly take prescription medication. That number likely increases when you consider those of us taking daily vitamins or other dietary supplements. If you find yourself busy often, it can be easy to forget to take your medication as directed or at the appropriate time. It is just one more thing you have to mentally juggle, particularly when traveling and getting out of your normal routine.
Pill organizers are inexpensive and there is one out there for just about any specific need you might have. The ACTIVE Reviews team has done the market research for you and gathered the best into one place to help you make your decision.
The Best Pill Organizers - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall: Apex 7-Day Ultra Bubble-Lok Pill Organizer
- Best for Arthritis: EZY DOSE 7-Day Push Button Pill Organizer
- Best for Multiple Doses: e-Pill 4 Times a Day x 7-Day Weekly Pill Organizer Reminder
- Best for Large Pills: Acu-Life XL 7-Day Push Button Pill Box
- Best Monthly: MEDca Monthly Pill Box
- Best Smart: LiveFine Bluetooth 28-Day Pill Dispenser
What to Look for When Shopping for Pill Organizers
There are several things to consider when shopping for the best pill organizer. However, the most important thing is your individual needs. Are you looking for an organizer that will help you remember to take your pill at a certain time? Are you looking for an organizer that can hold several pills divided into daily sections? Once you answer questions like these and know what your need is, then you are ready to see what the market has to offer. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Overall size. There is no standard size for pill organizers, and you can find one that fits any need you may have. There are pill organizers designed to be compact and fit in a travel bag and there are pill organizers designed to sit on a counter or bedside table and not move. Once again, your specific medication needs will determine what size pill organizer you should consider. We've broken down the dimensions for each item on our list to make it easier for you.
- Compartments. Compartments are the most important part of selecting your pill organizer. Some pill organizers only have a couple compartments and others have 100 or more. However, the capacity of each compartment is also important. Generally, compartment capacity is measured in how many aspirin-sized pills it can hold at once. Many medications are bigger than aspirin-sized tablets, and if that is true for your medication, divide the number of aspirin pills by two or three to get a more accurate understanding of the capacity.
- Organization style. Many pill organizers are made for weekly use, which means they have compartments for seven days' worth of medication. If you have multiple doses a day, there are organizers that are further divided into AM and PM compartments, or even into four dose compartments. However, there are also pill organizers that have daily compartments for a month's worth of medication.
- Locking mechanism. The locking mechanisms can differ from product to product. Make sure you understand how the organizer will open and close before making your purchase because some of the mechanisms can be difficult to work if you suffer from diseases like arthritis or carpal tunnel that affect your fine motor skills. There are also options that have child-proof locks or time-release locks, which can be an important safety feature for some people.
- Special features. Most pill organizers are fairly simple with no special features. However, there are smart pill organizers that alert you when it's time to take your medication, or that automatically dispense your medication from its compartment. Any special features of the organizers on our list will be noted for your convenience.
Best Overall - Apex 7-Day Ultra Bubble-Lok Pill Organizer
SPECS
- Dimensions: 6.5" x 1.5" x 1"
- Color: Multiple colors
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 25 aspirin-sized pills per compartment
- Number of compartments: 7
- Locking mechanism: Pop lock
The Apex 7-Day Ultra Bubble-Lok is likely what you envision when you picture a pill organizer. It's small enough to easily pack and take with you when you travel, but still has seven compartments labeled for each day of the week. Those seven compartments are big enough to hold multiple large-sized pills simultaneously, but there is also an XL option available that increases the organizer's capacity.
One of the best features of the Apex is the locking mechanism. The Bubble-Lok technology uses a latch to keep the top of the compartments securely attached, but unlike the typical latches used on other pill organizers, this one opens with the press of a finger. Underneath the latch, the frame of the organizer is bubbled to give your finger ample space to release the lock. The compact size and versatility of the Apex make it our pick for the best overall pill organizer.
PROS
- Compact size
- Bubble-lok technology for easy latch release
- Multiple size options
CONS
- Smaller compartment capacity
- Reviewers say it tips over easily when locking the compartments
BUY: Apex 7-Day Ultra Bubble-Lok Pill Organizer
Best for Arthritis - EZY DOSE 7-Day Push Button Pill Organizer
SPECS
- Dimensions: 8.75" x 4.5" x 1"
- Color: Multiple options
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 30 aspirin-sized pills per compartment
- Number of compartments: 14
- Locking mechanism: Push-button release
The EZY DOSE pill organizer was designed specifically for people with arthritis or other fine motor skill problems in mind. The push button release on the individual compartments makes accessing your medication as simple as possible. The EZY DOSE also has two compartments for each day of the week, labeled for morning and evening, to help you make sure you don't miss a medication dose.
Each compartment on this organizer is fairly large compared to other organizers on the list and can fit several medications at once. The top of each compartment is clear so that you can easily see your pills and differentiate between morning and evening medicines. The lids also make an audible snapping sound when shut securely so that you can be sure there won't be any spills.
PROS
- Push-button release for easy opening
- AM/PM subdivisions for compartments
- Clear lids on all compartments
CONS
- Reviews are mixed on the durability
- Cannot remove compartments
BUY: EZY Dose 7-Day Push Button Pill Organizer
Best for Multiple Doses - e-Pill 4 Times a Day x 7 Day Weekly Pill Organizer Reminder
SPECS
- Dimensions: 5.75" x 4.5" x 3"
- Color: Multi-colored
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 10 aspirin-sized pills per compartment
- Number of compartments: 28
- Locking mechanism: Snap-shut lock
The e-Pill weekly organizer has seven pill boxes that are each divided into four smaller compartments, which makes it the best option for anyone with a multiple-dose medication regimen. The pill boxes are different colors and labeled for each individual day of the week to help you make sure you're not getting mixed up. One of the more convenient parts of this organizer is that each pill box detaches from the holder so that you can take your medications on the go without taking the whole unit.
If you're taking multiple medications throughout the day then you know how easy it can be to lose track of time and miss a dose. To combat this, the e-Pill organizer comes with a detachable timer that you can set and it will repeat itself every day. The alarm sounds for 15 seconds and repeats every 5 minutes until you get your medication, just in case you miss it the first time.
PROS
- Pill boxes are divided into four compartments per day
- Daily alarms so you don't miss a dose
- Detachable pill boxes for when you are on the go
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- Sub-divided compartments are relatively small
- Latch system is secure but not arthritis-friendly
BUY: e-Pill 4 Times a Day x 7 Day Weekly Pill Organizer Reminder
Best for Large Pills - Acu-Life XL 7-Day Push-Button Pill Box
SPECS
- Dimensions: 7.5" x 1.75" x 0.75"
- Color: Translucent Blue
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 50 aspirin-size tablets per compartment
- Number of compartments: 7
- Locking mechanism: Push-button lock
The Acu-Life XL is a very versatile pill container that combines features from several others on our list. As the name implies, the Acu-Life XL is made to store a lot of pills; however, the extra size is in the pill compartment itself not in the overall size of the container. The pill compartments fit up to 50 aspirin-sized tablets, which is about double the amount of an average pill container. The extra space gives you plenty of room for any larger pills and capsules you may need.
The container has seven compartments of this size that are labeled for each day of the week to help you stay organized, but the compartments are not partitioned for multiple doses. If you are taking different medicines at different times throughout the day, this is probably not the best container for you. Another highlight feature of the Acu-Life XL is that it comes equipped with push-button locks that make it easily accessible for anyone with dexterity issues.
PROS
- XL individual compartments
- Push-button for easy access
- Relatively compact overall size
CONS
- No sub-divisions in the compartments despite their size
- Pills can be difficult to remove from the deep compartment
BUY: Acu-Life XL 7-Day Push-Button Pill Box
Best Monthly - MEDca Monthly Pill Box
SPECS
- Dimensions: 12.17" x 9.25" x 7.6"
- Color: Blue and white
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 25 aspirin-sized pills per compartment
- Number of compartments: 124
- Locking mechanism: Snap-shut lock
The MEDca Monthly pill box is actually 31 removable containers, corresponding to each day of the month, in one big holder. The 31 containers are subdivided into four compartments labeled morning, noon, evening, and bedtime for multiple dosage needs, and there is a labeled space for "today's medication" so that you can avoid confusing your days. The MEDca Monthly is a great option for anyone who is very organized and likes to plan for the long term.
The holder is not particularly portable, but since the individual day containers are removable, they are easy to pack and go for any vacation, business, or other traveling needs. The compartments are spacious and give you enough room for up to 25 aspirin-sized pills, which is large enough to hold several larger medications or supplements. The one drawback on the MEDca Monthly is the locking mechanism. The individual compartments on the containers have a snap-shut lock with limited space for your fingers to grip and pop open.
PROS
- Enough compartments to organize for an entire month
- Detachable boxes make it easy to pack and go
- Multiple subdivisions for multi-dose medications
- Lifetime money-back guarantee
CONS
- Snap-shut lock is secure but can be difficult to open
- Pill boxes are numbered but the rotation can get confusing
Best Smart - LiveFine Bluetooth 28-Day Pill Dispenser
SPECS
- Dimensions: 9.25" x 9.25" x 3"
- Color: Clear
- Material: Plastic
- Capacity: Up to 20 aspirin-sized pills per compartment
- Number of compartments: 28
- Locking mechanism: Snap-shut and key
The LiveFine Bluetooth Dispenser offers the ultimate assistance for your medication routine. The LiveFine has 28 individual compartments that can hold several medications at once, and it has a digital display in the center that shows the time. You can set alerts on the organizer itself that will give you visual reminders in the form of a flashing light to go along with the alarm sound. However, you can also connect this organizer to your smartphone's calendar and alert system to manage your reminders from there.
Another great thing about the LiveFine is that it is an automatic dispenser. You preload the pills into the 28 compartments and every day it will rotate and dispense the medication for you without you having to pry open a lid. The lid on the dispenser is clear so you can see what medications are going to be dispensed, but the cover also has an option for you to lock it with a key to prevent any accidents or mix-ups after you've filled the compartments with your medication.
PROS
- Automatically dispenses medication
- Customizable alerts up to 6x per day
- Can hold 28 days' worth of medication
- Bluetooth connectivity allows you to use your phone's calendar
CONS
- Individual compartments are relatively small
- Not ideal for multi-dose medications
BUY: LiveFine Bluetooth 28-Day Pill Dispenser
FAQs About Pill Organizers
Are pill organizers worth it?
There are several factors to consider before determining whether a pill organizer will be worth it to you. If you struggle to stay organized and find yourself forgetting to take your medications often, a pill organizer would likely be a great investment. Pill organizers are also very helpful to keep your medication or supplements organized when you are traveling, so if you find yourself on the go often then you could benefit from purchasing one.
Other people who will likely find pill organizers helpful include people who take multiple doses of medication throughout the day, people who take multiple different medications, or caretakers of people who need to take medication.
How can I organize my medication?
Keeping your medication organized is imperative, particularly if missing a dose will have a negative effect on your daily activities. The best way to organize your medication is with a good pill organizer. Pill organizers come in many different shapes and sizes and what you're looking for will be dependent on your specific needs. However, even the simplest organizers can help you keep your medications separate or remember to take the right medication at the appropriate time.
How do the elderly organize their medications?
As our bodies age, many of us find ourselves including more medications in our routine. It can be difficult to keep track of the different medications and doses required throughout the day, so if you're struggling to keep your medications organized, we highly recommend a pill organizer. Pill organizers are typically simple and organized by days of the week, but there are other options available for almost any organizational need you might have.
How do I stop dropping my pills?
If you find yourself dropping your pills or struggling to remove them from the standard bottles they are packaged in, you may benefit from a pill organizer. Pill organizers are a simple product, but they are very helpful in organizing and accessing your medication. Specifically, there are many pill organizers that are designed to make it easier to scoop your pills directly into your hand. There are also pill organizers with automatic dispensers to help those with dexterity problems.
What are pill organizers called?
Pill organizers are generally just called pill organizers. However, many of them have more proper names depending on their organizational method; there are 7-day pill organizers, smart pill organizers, monthly pill organizers, multi-dose pill organizers, and many more. The pill organizer you are specifically looking for will depend on how you want or need to organize your medication.
What do pill organizers do?
Pill organizers are designed to help people who take medications keep their medications organized. Basic pill organizers label different compartments to correspond with days of the week, but there are also organizers that have customizable alarms and alerts to make sure you never forget to take a dose. Anyone who regularly takes medication could benefit from using a pill organizer.
Pill Organizers | Electrolyte Drinks | Protein Bars | Energy Gels | Hydration Packs | Food Storage Containers | Eating Healthy While Traveling