Cap shows who took medicine

Device can help ensure drugs are taken as directed By Jimmy Flint Staff Writer jflint@advertiser-tribune.com A product called TimerCap is being used to avoid patients not taking their medication as directed. Larry Twerksy, the CEO of California-based TimerCap LLC, is a man who has had several business ventures, working with companies such as Gold Mine, 1-800-dentist and 1-800-snoring. Twersky, a graduate from California State University-Northridge in 1984, said he and his wife only invest in businesses that follow three principles. "It has to be good for society, we have to have fun and we have to make money, in that order," he said. Twersky said the TimerCap product can be found in all CVS and Rite Aid stores. He said according to a World Health Organization study, more than 125,000 deaths each year in the United States are attributed to patients not taking their medications as directed. Twerksy said the study states about half of patients do not take their medication as directed. Twersky said the TimerCap, which is a cap created to fit the original pill bottle that comes from the pharmacy, helps fix the issue by featuring an LCD timer that resets when the pill bottle is opened. He said the caps are designed to fit bottles based on what pharmacy or OTC medication is used. "Every other solution, pill boxes, etc., they take away all the labeling information and all the safety information," he said. "The TimerCap is the only solution in the pharmacies that keep the bottle. It is important for safety. We are a big advocate for keeping the medication in the bottle it came in." Twerksy said having the TimerCap answers the No. 1 question people have. "Did I or did I not take this?" he said. "We forget, on a daily basis, what our normal routines are. It's easy to forget when we took our medication." Twersky said the cap also lets people know if someone has stolen from their prescription pill bottle. "If it has been opened when the family was here or friends were here or if a parent is gone for eight hours but the cap says four hours, you know you need to talk to a child or family member," he said. "You wouldn't normally be able to tell if just one is missing." Twersky said the product costs about $10 for three caps. He said there are some models that have non-replaceable batteries that are expected to last from one year up to 18 months. Twersky said another model has a replaceable battery. Twerksy said the product and a move towards a higher level of compliance packaging is very important during the 21st century. Phillip Sugarman, public relations director for the company, argued the opioid epidemic is occurring due in major part to inadequate packaging. "The consequences of this abuse have been drastic, as the number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has quadrupled in the United States since 1999," he said. "One of the biggest causes of opioid addiction is that less than 50 percent of patients take their medications as directed, with the biggest cause of that being forgetfulness." Sugarman said the TimerCap is a simple and inexpensive solution to that issue. Twersky said the product is not the "end all, be all," but he thinks it is a step in the right direction and can have positive effects in many facets of life. "People should understand how long its been since they took their last pill, to know that it's safe for driving," he said. "We feel these little precautions can be helpful." Twersky added the product can contribute in a situation where multiple people are administering medication to one person. "There has to be coordination," he said. "Medication is kept in the bottle the medications were dispensed in, all the things you need to keep the patient safe are right there." Twersky shared a story to illustrate his point the cap is an added tool against the problems he mentioned. "A lady went out for the day, her husband gave their son her opioid on accident, she came back and saw her cap was opened," he said. "Within about 10 minutes, she rushed the kid to the hospital because her husband didn't know she had given him the opioid already. The son was OK and the husband didn't die, because the mother would have killed him." Twerksy said the happy ending of that story is not representative of a lot of other situations. "The coordination of giving the medication is important," he said. "I was at a pharmacy convention and talked to a husband and wife who are both pharmacists." Twersky said the husband and wife did not communicate and gave their child a double dose of cough syrup. "Those are two pros in the industry who couldn't coordinate," he said. Twerksy said the product, which is assembled in the United States in a facility that hires autistic adults, should be in every household. "It's too inexpensive to not protect your family and children," he said. Twersky said the product also is available online at¬†timercap.com or at www.amazon.com.¬† He said his company also is working on two "smart" products that can be synced to computers or phones. Twersky said the iCap and iSort can send reminders to you, another person or to a doctor to let them know when you should take your medication and when you last took it. Twersky added that information on the bottle also would be available within the app. "We can know if our parents have taken their medication as directed and we don't have to worry," he said. Twersky added it can help parents stay independent before they go into an assisted living home. He said the free TimerCap app is available in the Apple store and he hopes people take time to investigate the product. "We don't do this because we have to," Twersky said. "We do it because we like to."