No matter how clear the directions are on our medications, we’re not always taking them as we should. And it’s hurting us.

Nearly three out of four Americans report not always taking their prescriptions as directed, according to learnaboutrxsafety.org. We forget to take our pills or neglect to bring them with us on vacation. Or we may feel better — so we don’t believe we need our medication anymore. We might even take less than the recommended dosage to reduce side effects or save money.

Even with extensive education, some patients abruptly stop taking medication when symptoms begin to improve.

“Patients commonly forget to take medications, and this is a problem that plagues patients of all ages,” said Jared Heathman, M.D., a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in Houston, Texas.

“Daily pill containers and phone reminders certainly help, but neither of these have cured this health concern. Even with extensive education, some patients abruptly stop taking medication when their symptoms begin to improve, but prescribing guidelines have been developed for good reason. Symptoms can quickly return and bacteria can develop resistance with incomplete dosing regimens,” Heathman added.

It’s no wonder, then, that the search has been on for something that will help keep us on track — and this latest development, assuming it works the way it’s supposed to, leaves those pill containers in the dust.

Meet Pillo, a personal home health robot. The device, far from being futuristic, is available this month. Pillo can reportedly answer health and wellness questions, store up to four weeks’ worth of vitamins and medications in a tamper-proof container, and recognize users through facial recognition technology.

The robot is also supposed to be able to connect us to a health care professional within minutes and re-order medications when we’re running low. Pillo should sync with a smartphone or smartwatch.

Sounds unbelievable.

That’s why Heathman isn’t automatically sold on it.

The robot is supposed to connect us to a health care professional within minutes and re-order medications when we run low.

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“While any pill reminders, including robots, could be helpful, there are still many questions I would have before recommending such a product,” Heathman told LifeZette. “The Pillo reports that it can re-order prescription refills, but will it also notify us when it is time to schedule and attend doctor appointments to obtain more refills? How is it different from a cell phone reminder if we aren’t within a close distance to hear the device?”

Some prescriptions have addictive potential, he added — so parents and caregivers should keep a close watch on these medications. Also, guests in the home sometimes steal prescriptions, believe it or not. And how much information does Pillo retain? Some users say privacy may be an issue.

“Is the Pillo tamper-proof to prevent theft and abuse? Without good answers to these questions, the risks could outweigh the benefits. It is certainly interesting to see how technology could potentially improve health care, though,” said Heathman.

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Pillo Health is based in New York. The company is still seeking financial backers as it moves its product to market. The first 100 “early bird” adopters can purchase this robotic reminder device on Indiegogo for $299. That’s a 50-percent discount compared to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

The device is expected out later this month.