As we get older, the number of medications we need seems to grow. Arthritis, heart disease, lung problems and other illnesses become more frequent. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember which medication you need to take when. That’s where those little plastic pillboxes come in handy.

Pro: There are a variety of them, depending on your needs. If you must take a medication more than once a day, there are boxes that have three or four compartments for each day of the week. If you only need to take them once a day, there are boxes that let you plan things out for up to two weeks.

Con: When the pill bottle is empty, it’s time to throw it away, right? Not so fast if you use a pill planner. You could forget to refill your medication and if you don’t have the bottle, it’s hard to reorder. One method to get around this is simply turn the empty bottle upside down. That reminds you it’s empty and keeps important information, like the prescription number, available.

Pro: Pillboxes can also help you take the number of pills you need. As an example, if you are taking a strong pain medication, there is a limit to how many you can take in a day. Unfortunately, the stronger the pain medication, the more likely you are to forget you’ve already had one. It’s very easy to take more than what is prescribed. If they are in the pillboxes, you can tell it has already been taken and that risk is reduced.

Con: Most of us associate a prescription pill bottle with something we need to take. The pillbox might be a little more difficult to associate with taking an important medication. Some medications don’t have a noticeable effect on us, though they are extremely important.

Pro: You can put your supplements in the box, making it easier to remember to take them. This includes garlic and Omega-3 capsules/tablets

Con: Some capsules look the same, so it could be easy to mix them up. Any medication put in with garlic will probably smell and taste like it. Some types of fish oil should be refrigerated, so make sure to read the labels.

If you use one of these planners, make sure you get the best one for your needs. If you aren’t sure which to get, talk to your pharmacist. He or she will know how many medications you take and how often you are to take them. That will help you find the right one.