Medicine only helps if you take it properly. And adhering to an exact schedule of what to take, and when, can be challenging for patients who are forgetful or need to take several medications.

Only about half of patients take medication as prescribed, resulting in unnecessary hospital admissions and ER visits that cost the U.S. health-care system an estimated $290 billion a year.

To help combat the problem, many doctors are trying a more high-tech approach: They’re recommending smartphone apps that send reminders to patients.

“I think it’s going to become pretty standard” for doctors to recommend them, said Dr. Michael A. Weber, a cardiologist at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He said the apps are particularly helpful for patients with symptomless conditions, such as high-blood pressure or high cholesterol. Those patients are less likely to regularly take their medications than someone with pain or an infection.

Here are some tips for choosing an app:

Check whether it’s available for your smartphone’s operating system.

Ask your doctor’s opinion. Some may not be up on the different apps but have staff members who can help patients pick and install apps.

Start with one of the many free or low-cost apps. Search your app store for “medication reminder.”

Think about what you’ll really use. If you only want reminders to take your pills, that’s all you need. If you’re taking multiple drugs or change medications often, you might prefer an app with information on your condition, drug interactions and other details.

To protect your privacy, pick one with password protection.

If your life is hectic, consider one with a snooze function.

Let apps help

Here’s a sampling of several free smartphone apps:

MedCoach. Includes feature to connect to your pharmacy to order refills.

RxmindMe. From Walgreens. Offers the ability to easily export prescription information.

Pill Monitor. Enables you email a log of prescriptions taken.

Care4Today. From a unit of Johnson & Johnson. It includes options to monitor the medication use of loved ones and to donate to a charity each day you take all medicine on time.

Med Helper. Enables you to export results to doctors, nurses and caregivers.

Pill Reminder. From the Drugs.com website. Enables users to set up accounts for multiple family members.

Medisafe. Supports Spanish, French, German, Russian and Danish languages, as well as English.

If you don’t have a smartphone, there are services to just get reminders:

Snoozester.com. Sends automated calls or texts to a cellphone or landline for free.

VSReminder, at vinade.com. Sends free text or email reminders, for medication use and events.

OnTimeRx.com. Sends reminders via text, phone call or email. Charges a small fee.

Associated Press