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Medication adherence, or taking medicine as directed by a doctor, plays an incredibly important role in correctly treating health problems – but why is it so important?
Medication has the power to relieve pain, restore function, fight off deadly infections, and sometimes, even save lives. The only problem is that most drugs only show results when taken as directed: in the right dose, at the right time, and in the right dose format, too.
Sometimes, this doesn’t happen. Patients may neglect to follow their doctor’s orders, taking drugs too often, not often enough, or even in the wrong dose. Others might refuse to take medication altogether. This is called “medication non-adherence,” and it can seriously harm your health.
We want to help you avoid this potential treatment risk at home.
Why Non-Adherence Occurs
Medication non-adherence can be intentional, meaning the patient actively participates in it knowing that they aren’t following directions. But it is far more common for it to be unintentional or even accidental.
This phenomena is so common that most pharmacies now take active steps to prevent it before and after a patient leaves. This may include tracking refill dates, scheduling check-in calls, or even just making sure someone understands instructions when they come in to fill a prescription.
Still, pharmacists can only control what happens in the pharmacy. Once a patient leaves, it’s up to the patient to continue to follow directions. This is less likely to happen for the following reasons.
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Simple Forgetfulness
It happens to the best of us: we wake up late, rush around to get to work, and totally forget to take our medication. This is one of the most common reasons for unintentional non-compliance. The busier and less focused on your health you are, the more likely this is to happen, too.
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Medication Experience
Some medications can have an unpleasant odor, a bad taste, or a difficult route of administration (e.g., injections). Or, they might be difficult to swallow, use, or apply. Over time, this can create resentment toward the drug and patients may simply stop trying.
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Associated Costs
It’s no secret that drugs can be expensive in the United States – sometimes prohibitively so. Patients who are on a restricted income or simply cannot afford their medications may avoid, or even stop, taking a drug in order to save money. The crux is that this can actually result in higher costs when serious medical complications occur.
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Confusing Instructions
Sometimes, the problem lies not with the patient, but in how instructions are written in the first place. Doctors may use terms such as “BID” or “QD” that make sense to them, but aren’t easy for the patient to interpret. Or, they may only write “use as directed.” This might make it far more difficult for a patient to tell if they’re using a drug right.
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Lack of Education
This one is common when patients are first diagnosed with a new illness or disease. If they aren’t well educated on their condition, their medication, and how to manage both elements, they may assume it’s okay to skip doses, take extra pills, or even stop taking a drug altogether.
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Anxiety About Side Effects
It can feel a little bit scary to take a new medication, especially if it’s a life-saving medication with a risk for serious side effects. This might make someone avoid using their medication. Some people also experience pharmacophobia, which is a fear of taking drugs.
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Unrealistic Outlook
Patients don’t always fully understand the scope or potential risks associated with their disease. This often happens with “silent killer” illnesses such as high blood pressure or Diabetes, especially if the person diagnosed hasn’t yet suffered many symptoms. They may assume that because they feel and look alright, they don’t really need medication.
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Mental Illness or Stress
Patients who are under extreme stress are far more likely to miss medications. Depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses may also have a negative impact on a patient’s ability to follow a schedule, remember dosing times, or even remember to refill and pick up meds.
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Medication Errors
Errors in instructions, dosing, or even the type of medication prescribed can happen. A doctor might prescribe the right medication in the wrong dose or the wrong medication in the right dose. This obviously leads to incorrect use of the drug. Improvements in pharmacy technology have made this extremely rare – but it’s still worth mentioning.
How to Improve Medication Adherence At Home
Now that you understand how to spot the most important red flags, let’s talk about other ways you can improve medication adherence at home.
1. Talk to Your Doctor
Your doctor knows your personal health situation better than almost anyone else involved in your care. You can, and should, ask questions about the medications you are prescribed and the conditions you are diagnosed with. This can help you better understand your illness, your treatment, and how they connect.
Don’t be afraid to bring up issues with medications, either, even if they occur months or years after you were first prescribed. If you let them know what’s happening, and why you’re finding it difficult to use your medication, they will almost certainly be able to find a fix.
2. Talk to Your Pharmacist
Your community pharmacist is an often-overlooked source of support and information. In fact, they often know more about the science of medications than the average physician. After all, they do spend all day, everyday, studying and working with them behind the counter!
Don’t be afraid to call or visit your neighborhood pharmacy any time you have questions, are struggling, or just aren’t sure what to do. They are your partner in medication adherence. You can even ask your pharmacist for a one-on-one consultation if your treatment plan is complex. They can even help educate you on your illness, adjust a dosage format (e.g., turn a pill into a liquid that’s easier to swallow) or advocate for you with your doctor over the phone.
3. Seek Financial Help
If the cost of your medication is inhibiting your ability to adhere to instructions, know that you aren’t alone. This is the reality for many Americans. But there are options out there to help you cover the costs, get discounts, or even access free drugs.
You may be able to find coupons that provide up to 50 percent or more off of certain branded drugs. This can be a lifesaver in trying financial times, especially if you can’t take generics for some reason.
Your pharmacist can help you find and access financial aid programs from drug manufacturers, insurance companies, and social services. Many drug companies have compassionate care programs for people who are struggling financially, and some pharmacies even have in-house programs themselves.
You can also ask your pharmacist about switching to a generic or alternative medication if you can’t afford the drug you were prescribed. In many cases, there is a cheaper option available to fit into your budget.
4. Ask About Compounding
Can’t swallow that pill? Can’t get past the taste of a new medication? Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to a compounding pharmacy about having your dosage format changed to better suit your needs. With compounding, pharmacies build your medication from scratch using base ingredients. They can make it easier to use or even combine multiple drugs into the same dose to cut back on treatment complexity.
5. Schedule and Plan Medication Times
It’s much more difficult to overlook or neglect medications if you plan them out in advance. This is especially true if instructions are complex or you take many medications on a daily basis. Sit down once every week or two and separate drugs into a weekly pill box. Or, ask your pharmacy to place them into a foil-backed pill calendar to help you follow along and stay on track.
To increase medication adherence, it may also be helpful to keep a record of when you use your medication and any side effects or symptoms you experience. Smartphone apps like Medisafe make this quick and easy while also allowing you to set reminders for dosing and refill times, too. If you aren’t technically inclined, you can just write it down in a notebook instead.
