Pria Medication Dispenser Review

Video Review

What I Liked About Pria

For those of you short on time, here are the main things I took away from using my Pria medication dispenser.

Purchasing Pria

Pria can be purchased online, through either Amazon or through Pria’s website. I would recommend the latter because it will provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding Pria, in addition to potential promotions. For example, I received $50 off my purchase price with Pria’s summer promotion!

Since Pria currently offers just one model, selecting my device was quick and easy. I simply added it to my cart, entered my credit card information, and completed my purchase. Disregarding the promo code, the cost of Pria came to $299.99. This included my Pria device, 30 Days of service, 2-day shipping, and a 1-Year limited warranty.

Setting Up Pria

Pria arrived on my doorstep with a power cable, a reusable pill cup, some extra dosage dividers, and the Pria device itself. Following the included startup guide, I began the setup process. First, I placed my Pria near an outlet and plugged it into an outlet. The screen lit up and walked me through the process of connecting to my home Wi-Fi network.

Then I downloaded the Pria app onto my phone and synced the phone to my device. I was then prompted to take a few photos for facial recognition purposes. This would be a good safeguard in the event of Pria being in a home with children, as only I would be able to access my pills.

This part of the process took me less than fifteen minutes. What took considerably longer, though, was actually loading my pills into the device. For this step, I used my smartphone to record each medication and the regularity with which I wished to administer them. Once I finished this, I could begin loading them into my device.

To load my Pria, I simply said, “Okay, Pria, load my medications,” which then prompted me to select either assisted or manual filling, both of which I tried. Manual filling required me to remove the pill wheel from the back of my Pria and place my pills inside of each compartment, much like a traditional pill organizer. When finished, I simply popped the tray back inside my Pria.

Assisted filling, however, guided me through the process. The pill wheel remained inside of my device, and I filled each pill, one-by-one, based on the medications that I’d added to my profile. This method took about twice as long as manually filling my medications; however, this seemed like a great choice for someone concerned about miscounting or misconstruing their medication. So depending on what your caregiver situation is, both fill options could have their benefits.

Pria in Daily Use

Really, the most laborious part of Pria use (or any medication dispenser, for that matter) is the setup. After this period, using my Pria was a breeze.

For testing purposes, I set up my Pria with a twice-daily dose of three pills, one dose in the morning and the other at night. In order to receive my medication, I would simply say, “Okay Pria, dispense my meds.” Then, through either facial recognition or PIN-code, I would verify my identity and then receive my meds from beneath the Pria device. In times when I was less proactive, Pria would remind me through sound from the Pria itself and an app reminder on my phone that I had meds waiting to be taken.

It’s important to note, however, that Pria’s medication wheel is not locked. If you’re caring for someone who demonstrates med-seeking behaviors, they’ll have no trouble opening up this device and accessing their medication.

In addition to medications, Pria also offers daily care plans. Essentially, this works like a personal planner. Through the Pria app, where you enter your medication schedule, you can also enter any other time-sensitive information such as doctor appointments, social events, or additional medication reminders. This information can be viewed at the beginning of each day, which would surely come in handy for someone looking to streamline their scheduling.

Another Pria feature that I loved was video calling. With Pria’s front-facing camera, I could begin a video chat with any of my contacts by saying, “Pria, call [name].” During my tests, both video and audio came through clearly on my Pria. Since my contacts could also make calls directly to my Pria, I felt like this would be a great way for caregivers to check in on their loved ones, whether to remind them of a missed medication or to simply say hello.

Here are some of Pria’s other abilities, all of which can be activated through voice commands:

• Virtual Assistant: Much like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri, Pria can accomplish a handful of tasks through voice commands. It can answer simple questions like, “How many tablespoons are in a quarter cup?”
• Reminders: Using your voice, you can also have Pria set up reminders through its built-in timing software. Whether reminding yourself to pick up some groceries or to remember a birthday, Pria has you covered.
• Weather Forecast: By saying, “Okay, Pria. What’s the weather?”––I could check in on the day’s forecast.

The Pria App

Using Pria’s smartphone app (available for Apple and Android devices), I was able to set up a customized care circle that included my husband and children. From their phones, they could initiate video calls with my Pria, in addition to checking in on my medication schedule and even adding reminders of their own. This app is included for free with your Pria subscription, which costs $9.99 per month.

Pria Warranty and Return Policy

If you’re on the fence about Pria, rest assured. You can try this device for up to 30 days, during which time you may return it and receive a full refund. Additionally, every Pria is covered by a 1-year limited warranty, which covers any manufacturer defects. Although I encountered no issues with my Pria, if I had, all I’d have to do is send it back to the manufacturer, and they would either repair or replace my device.

Pria Recap

Is Pria the right medication dispenser for you? Well, this depends. If you’re looking for an automatic medication dispenser with a greater storage capacity, then you might want to look into Hero, which can handle up to 90 days worth of pills. With its Hero Fill feature, you can even get medications delivered straight to your door. With that said, Hero costs an initial $99 fee which, combined with their $29.99 monthly subscription cost, would quickly become more expensive than Pria, which you own rather than rent.

Where Pria really shines is with its smart features. Although many medication dispensers feature proprietary apps, Pria is the only one on the market to include voice commands and video chat. For the person looking for a user-friendly medication dispenser, one that can also keep you connected to the rest of the world, I would wholeheartedly recommend Pria.