Samsung Health adds Medications Tracking feature

Samsung announced a new Medications tracking feature that will be added to the Samsung Health app to help users manage their health more comprehensively.

The new feature will help users easily keep track of both their prescription and over-the-counter medications and provide important, relevant information and tips about these medications. In particular, it can assist those who take medications regularly and those taking supplements for general well-being.

How does it work?

Upon entering the name of a select medication into Samsung Health, the Medications feature will provide users with detailed information that includes general descriptions as well as possible side effects. Adverse reactions that could occur from drug-to-drug interactions or if taken alongside certain food and substances, such as caffeine and alcohol, are also provided.

One example of this is if a user is taking the prescription drug Simvastatin, Samsung Health will warn the user that the drug has been linked to serious side effects when combined with grapefruit juice.

Users can even log the shape and color of their medications, allowing them to easily differentiate between the pills they are taking. Dosage, time of consumption, and other details can also be added to avoid any potential confusion.

Users can set up alerts that remind them both when to take their medications and when they should consider refilling them. These alerts are fine-tuned to the individual user so the Medications feature is able to prioritize medications depending on their importance, with Samsung Health sending reminders ranging from "gentle" to "strong" depending on how important or urgent a given prescription is. For crucial medications, users can set a "strong" reminder that will display a full-screen alert on their smartphone accompanied by a long tone. For supplements like vitamins, a simple pop-up reminder will appear that will not disturb the user. Galaxy Watch users will also receive reminders right on their wrist so they can stay on top of their medication schedules, even when away from their phones.

The Medications tracking feature will first be available on the Samsung Health app in the U.S. via the app updates rolling out later this week.

On the record

"Samsung Health aims to help people better understand and manage their health through a holistic platform by connecting devices, services, and people," said Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. "With the addition of the new Medications tracking feature, we believe users will be able to more conveniently manage their medications, improve adherence and ultimately maintain better health overall."

The context

The Samsung Health app provides a range of advanced health offerings spanning sleep management, mindfulness programs, and irregular heart rhythm detection capabilities. With the addition of the Medications tracking feature, Samsung Health delivers a truly holistic wellness experience that helps users maintain healthier lifestyles while keeping on top of their medication regimens.

Finally, considering Samsung's wide reach - this feature will reach millions of users in the near future, providing them with another way to manage their medication intake. And in that sense, we're happy to see the Korean giant taking this step.