If you haven't heard of SPDs yet, organizing medication for seniors can still be a big challenge.

Do your parents refuse to take medication? When we do not have the necessary time to prepare the daily intakes, following the medical plan of a polypharmacy patient can be complicated.

A simple and practical way when we care for older people is to organize their medication with SPDs, also known as Personalized Dosing Systems.

Is it important to take medication organized correctly?

Organizing medication as prescribed by a professional is key. However, when we must manage more than five medications daily, the organization can become complicated.

Let us remember that we are talking about polymedicated elderly and dependent people. Therefore, they are more susceptible to chronic diseases, and what we commonly call “age ailments.”

Most medication errors could be avoided with good management.

The increase in daily medication, adding to memory problems and lack of knowledge, triggers a series of errors that we must avoid. The most common may be forgetting one or more doses, but also replacing one drug with another, or overdose.



A pharmacist will organize the medication for you

The SPD or Personalized Dosing System is a method widespread throughout Spain, and offered to polymedicated people. This is a service provided exclusively by pharmacies, and it guarantees professional medication organization.

An SPD is a system that is as simple as it is practical. Instead of receiving the medication in its original box, You will be given a weekly blister pack, with the pills organized. It will be carried out based on your medical plan, and will be ready to take.

The shots will be divided as follows:

    • Daily intakes: from Monday to Sunday.
    • Shots per hour: The most common format includes four times: morning, noon, afternoon and night.

In this way, if we find prepared blisters, we will see that the organization of the medication is 7 days for 4 daily doses.

Benefits of using an SPD

Personalized Dosing Systems will help you care for elderly or polymedicated people and increase therapeutic adherence.

Some of the most relevant aspects are:

  • Avoid unintentional overdoses: By having the pills organized and ready to take, you will not be able to take more than what is already available.
  • Facilitates the control of organized medications: You won't have to ask which pills you should take that day, or write down if you have already taken them.
  • Save time: Both for the person taking the medication, but also for you if you decide to use the already widespread SPDs.

For all the aspects mentioned, we can affirm that Personalized Dosing Systems are a very effective tool when it comes to improve therapeutic adherence.

How to hire a free SPD?

The prices of SPDs are not regularized, and vary depending on the autonomous community, and even the pharmacy you go to.

Its price can reach €30, but varies depending on the pharmacy. At IMA we have a network of collaborating pharmacies throughout the Spanish territory, which offer their services in an affordable way, and also,you will also receive it at the door of your house.

Differences between the SPD and other medication organization systems

There are different ways to organize daily intakes depending on your needs and those of your polymedicated family members. The characteristics that each of them can provide can influence the degree of therapeutic adherence, as well as the time necessary to carry it out.

Weekly pill boxes: this is one of the most popular systems, and we can find them in large stores, bazaars and even supermarkets. In this case, you must be the one who prepares them.

Mobile applications: they are the ideal complement to help older people with the organization of medication. With them you can set alarms for yourself as well as for your parents or other family members.

Weekly and monthly schedules: in the same way that we can write it down in the agenda, you can also organize the daily intakes in a weekly calendar showing the hours and type of medication that must be taken. Remember that if you use this system, try to place it in a place that is always visible.

Whichever method you choose, keep in mind at all times what needs your family members have, and how to help them gain independence without fear of making mistakes when taking their medication.


Disclaimer: At IMA we offer advice and information about our products. Consult with an expert before making any decision that may affect your health.