Medication non-adherence is a costly problem for our nations health-care system--to the tune of $290 billion a year.

Forgetfulness is often cited as the top reason people dont follow their medication plans, and the problem only gets worse for patients on multiple drugs.

To help keep patients on track with the treatments, a slew of apps and devices have hit the market. From web-based reminders to pill organizers, heres a look at four new tools designed to help patients adhere to their treatment plans.

MedMinder

The MedMinder pill dispenser works in conjunction with the Internet to keep track of when medicine is taken to promote adherance.

Heres how it works: Place the pills in the dispenser compartments and then go to MedMinders website to detail when the medicine should be taken. The site will then send reminders when its time to take the pills. The alerts come in the form of a light, sound alert, phone call, text or email. The device will even notify designated caregivers or family members when a medication isnt taken. The pill dispenser and reminder service costs $39.99 a month, and the device needs to be returned to the company.

Digestible Digital Pills

Be on the look out for new digestible pills with built in sensors to track when a user swallow medicine.

Some may be turned off by this new digital pill, but the FDA has green lighted Proteus Digital Health to work to digitize drugs to treat diabetes, the central nervous system and transplants.

According to Proteus Digital Health, each pill will contain a sensor that can communicate with its digital health feedback system to provide information about how users take the prescription drugs and how the body is responding to it. Proteus claims that more than 50% of people dont get the complete benefits from their pharmaceuticals because they take the wrong dose or inconsistently take their medicine.

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Never Forget to Take Your Medicine Again