Portable, personal medication dispensing apparatus and method

A portable medication dispenser, comprising:

• a detachable storage chamber storing pills packaged in a pill strand, the detachable storage chamber having a first opening for the pill strand to pass through and a docking section;
• and
• a main body, comprising:
• an external, rotating knob;
• an opening for the pill strand to pass through;
• a docking section to secure to the docking section of the storage chamber;
• a rotating hub rotatable by the external knob, the rotating hub engaging the pill strand moving the pill strand through the storage chamber and the main body and comprising cogged edges for engaging with the pill strand and recesses spaced apart a predetermined distance along the center of a curved surface of the rotating hub;
• a locking rod under spring tension to be positioned securely within the recesses of the rotating hub locking the rotating hub from advance;
• a controlling mechanism controlling the locking rod controlled by programming of the device to retract the locking rod allowing advance of the rotation hub at predetermined times;
• and
• an extruding rod under spring tension movable by force to move in a direction to force a pill out of the pill strand into a holding chamber;
• wherein the portable medication dispenser is programmable to control the locking rod and controlling mechanism to control the advancement of the rotating hub and pill strand.