Tutorial — Add your first medication
This tutorial walks you through setting up one everyday medication. You'll see every screen and know exactly what to tap.
Before you start
Make sure you've installed DoseAlert and allowed notifications. See Getting started if you haven't.
The example
Let's add a blood pressure medication: Lisinopril 10 mg, 1 tablet once a day at 8:00 AM.
Step 1 — Tap the + button
The mint + button sits in the bottom-right corner of every main screen. Tap it. The Add medication form opens.
Step 2 — Name and form
- Name: Lisinopril (or "Blood pressure pill" if you'd rather use a friendly label)
- Form: tap Tablet
Step 3 — Dose
- Amount: 1
- Unit: tablet
Optionally, you can add the strength (10 mg) in the strength field. This shows up in reports for your doctor.
Step 4 — Schedule
- Tap Schedule and choose Fixed times.
- Tap Add time and pick 8:00 AM.
Step 5 — Reminders
This is where the escalation chain lives. For a daily blood pressure medication, try:
- Level 1: fires at 8:00 AM, Reminder with sound.
- Level 2: fires 15 minutes later, Reminder with sound.
- Level 3: fires 30 minutes after scheduled, Dose alarm (loud).
Turn on the number of levels you want and pick the style for each.
Step 6 — Priority (optional)
For blood pressure, leave priority at Normal. If it were a heart or seizure medication, you'd set Critical.
Step 7 — Inventory (optional but recommended)
- Count: 30 (if you just picked up a 30-day bottle)
- Remind when below: 7 (so you get a week's notice to refill)
Step 8 — Save
Tap Save. The medication is now on your Today view.
Step 9 — Test it
Edit the medication temporarily to fire 2 minutes from now so you can see the reminder in action. Then switch back to 8:00 AM.
Or go to Settings > Sounds and tap Reminder with sound to fire a test notification 5 seconds out.
You're set
Tomorrow at 8:00 AM you'll get your first reminder. Tap Taken on the notification (even from the lock screen) to record it.
Next, try combining several pills into a group, or learn about setting up a taper.