# Medication reminders by text, on WhatsApp > Get medication reminders as WhatsApp messages, not SMS. Set your existing schedule, check the confirmation, and manage dose, refill, and appointment reminders. Pokobot sends your medication reminder as a WhatsApp text message. It does not send SMS. You describe the schedule you already follow, and Poko sends reminders in your chat at the times you set. This guide covers setting up and checking those reminders. Poko is a scheduling tool: it does not decide what medicine to take, choose a dose, or record whether you took it. ## Set up a medication reminder in three steps Use the schedule from your prescription or clinician. The 8am message below is an example to edit, not a suggested time for your medicine. 1. **Write your reminder and its schedule** Open Poko with the example below. Replace the label and time with your own, then send it. You can use a simple label such as “morning medicine” if you prefer not to put a medicine name in the message. - `remind me to take my medicine every day at 8am` 2. **Check the confirmation carefully** Read the reminder label, next date, time, and repeat. Check the timezone in Poko's welcome message too. If anything is wrong, correct it in the chat and review the new confirmation. 3. **Test that you receive an alert** Use this short test to check delivery without changing your medication schedule. Make sure the Poko chat is not muted and WhatsApp notifications are allowed. - `Remind me to check my reminders in 2 minutes` - [Read the full WhatsApp setup guide](https://www.pokobot.com/how-to-set-reminders-on-whatsapp.md): Phone setup, timezone checks, editing, and delivery troubleshooting. ## WhatsApp reminders and SMS reminders are different A Pokobot reminder arrives inside WhatsApp, in the conversation with Poko. It needs WhatsApp and an internet connection. It will not appear in your phone's SMS inbox, and it does not provide an SMS fallback. If you specifically need an SMS service for a phone without WhatsApp, Pokobot will not meet that requirement. If WhatsApp is already part of your routine, you can manage the schedule in that same app. ## Keep each medication schedule easy to check For several medicines, give each reminder a distinct label so you can tell them apart in “list.” If your existing schedule includes more than one time a day, you can send a separate reminder for each time and check each confirmation. If the prescribed schedule changes, update or cancel the old reminders before setting the replacement. Poko cannot know that a prescription changed, and receiving or replying to a message does not confirm that a dose was taken. - [How repeating reminders work](https://www.pokobot.com/features/recurring-reminders.md): Understand the schedule you are setting and how to manage it. ## Edit a time or stop a medication reminder Send “list” to check the reminders you have set. Name the reminder when asking to move it, and use the time from your updated schedule. Read the reply to confirm that the right reminder changed. To stop a schedule, send “cancel N” using its number in the latest list. For example, “cancel 2” removes reminder number 2; check the list first rather than assuming its number stayed the same. - `list` - `cancel 2` - `help` ## Add refill and appointment reminders Use a separate reminder for a refill or appointment so it is not confused with a dose reminder. For a refill, choose a date based on the supply you actually have. For an appointment, include the calendar date and time. You can keep the message brief, such as “check prescription refill on October 20 at 10am.” There is no need to include a diagnosis or a full prescription. - `remind me to check prescription refill on October 20 at 10am` - `remind me about my clinic appointment tomorrow at 11am` ## Help a parent set up their own reminders On your parent's phone, open Poko and help them send a reminder using their existing schedule. Together, check the confirmation and run a short delivery test. Reminders set this way arrive on their WhatsApp account. If you want to send a reminder from your own account to theirs, use the separate “poke” feature. Your parent needs to accept reminders from you before those messages start. - [Set up reminders with a parent](https://www.pokobot.com/whatsapp-reminders-for-parents.md): Help them get started on the phone they already use. - [Remind someone else, with their permission](https://www.pokobot.com/features/remind-a-friend.md): How recipient consent and stopping reminders work. ## FAQ **How do I get a medication reminder by text?** Send Pokobot your existing medication schedule in WhatsApp, check the confirmation, and run a short delivery test. The reminders arrive as WhatsApp messages at the times you set. **Does Pokobot send medication reminders by SMS?** No. Pokobot sends WhatsApp messages. It needs WhatsApp and an internet connection, and it does not fall back to SMS. **Can I set reminders for more than one medicine?** Yes. Give each reminder a clear label and its own schedule. Send “list” to review pending reminders, and check every confirmation against the schedule you already follow. **Does Poko know whether I took my medicine?** No. It sends reminders but does not monitor doses, verify that medicine was taken, or provide a medication adherence record. **What happens if my phone is offline or the chat is muted?** You need an internet connection to receive a WhatsApp message, and a muted chat may not alert you. Check delivery with a short test and keep any existing reminder arrangements you rely on. Poko cannot guarantee that you will see a message at its scheduled time. **How much do medication reminders cost?** Try Pokobot free for 7 days, with no card required. A paid subscription is needed after the trial to keep reminders running. Current plans are on the pricing page. ## Check how a reminder arrives. Try a short test in WhatsApp before setting up the schedule you already follow. ## Try it Open WhatsApp and [message Pokobot](https://wa.me/917722891195?text=Remind%20me%20to%20drink%20water%20in%202%20minutes). The first message can be a real reminder: - `Remind me to drink water in 2 minutes` First 7 days free. No app, no account, no card.