Need help sticking to your rheumatoid arthritis treatment regimen? These smartphone apps can help.

Keeping track of your medication regimen is a must when managing rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, RA treatment adherence can be key to avoiding flare-ups and other problems, said Diane Horowitz, MD, a rheumatologist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.   "Taking medication willy-nilly can cause yourself trouble," she said. However, technology has come to the rescue. Literally dozens of mobile apps can help you stay on top of what you need to take and when you need to take it. Here are six worthy of your attention.  

MedCoach Medication Reminder

MedCoach is a versatile medication tracking and treatment adherence app available free for both the iPhone and Android smartphones.

• Pros: You can set multiple daily alarms for multiple daily doses. The app reminds you when you're running low, and you can connect to your pharmacy to refill rheumatoid arthritis prescriptions.

• Cons: It can be buggy and not log the information you enter. There's no option for storing directions on how to take your medications.

Dosecast

Dosecast is one of the most popular treatment adherence tools available on either the iPhone or Android smartphones.

• Pros: It provides a lot of flexibility in scheduling rheumatoid arthritis doses on an irregular schedule. You can add other people or even your pet to the app for medication tracking.

• Cons: Many useful options are only available after you pay $3.99 for the premium edition. Reminders are not as loud or prominent as they could be.

Med Helper Pill Reminder

Another free medication tracker, this mobile app is also available on the iPhone and Android smartphones.

• Pros: It displays a full monthly calendar that you can use to plan your rheumatoid arthritis treatment adherence. Plus it reminds you of doctor's appointments and upcoming refills.

• Cons: Some users complain that it's difficult to figure out how to use. Reminders can be inconsistent, particularly with a complicated rheumatoid arthritis drug regimen.

My Medications

The American Medical Association created this mobile app to help people keep track of their health data and follow treatment adherence for rheumatoid arthritis. It costs 99 cents.

• Pros: The app tracks a variety of other health information like immunizations, allergies, and your health care team. You can even email your medical information to health care providers or family members.

• Cons: You can only track one person's health information in the app.

Track My Rx

This $2.99 mobile app is available on the iPhone and Android smartphones, and also works with a wide variety of personal computers and tablets as well.

• Pros: You can share your medication information across multiple platforms. If you take a lot of rheumatoid arthritis medications at once, you can set up a "blister pack" and record them all at the same time.

• Cons: Earlier versions of the app tended to crash.

RxmindMe

Walgreen's created this free treatment adherence app.

• Pros: You can take a picture of your medications to avoid confusion when it's time to take a rheumatoid arthritis dose. A pass code will keep folks who borrow your phone from nosing around in your medication data.

• Cons: Some users have had trouble with the app crashing. Large text is good for seniors, but can make for lots of scrolling.