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David,
Battle Creek
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The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
If you
have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical
professional. |
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September 2007
A Tough Pill to Swallow: Failure to Take Prescription Medications as
Directed Growing into World's
'Other Drug Problem'
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 The failure to take drugs at the prescribed
times and in the prescribed dosages
is officially known as medication
noncompliance or nonadherence.
By any name, it's just as dangerous and
costly as many illnesses.
In fact, studies have shown that noncompliance
causes 125,000 deaths
annually in the United States. It also leads
to as many as 25 percent of hospital and
nursing home admissions.
Fast becoming an international epidemic,
medication noncompliance is, in the words
of The New York Times, the world's "other
drug problem."
Consider these facts:
- Twenty-three percent of nursing home
admissions are due to medication
noncompliance. (This costs the U.S.
economy $31.3 billion, and it affects
380,000 patients.)
- Ten percent of hospital admissions are
due to medication noncompliance. (Costs
$15.2 billion, affecting 3.5 million patients.)
- About 50 percent of the 2 billion prescriptions filled each year are not taken
correctly.
- A third of patients take
all of their prescribed
medicines, while another
third only take some - and
the rest don't take any at
all.
The National Council on Patient Information and Education has provided two pdf handouts to help you avoid medication errors.
Also, please visit the websites below for more information:
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Forty-five percent of
patients who report
noncompliance say they have failed to take their medications
because of concerns they had about the
drugs themselves.
Forty-three percent
report having not complied with their
regimens because they felt the drug was
unnecessary.
Other reasons patients have given for not
sticking to their drug regimens include:
- "I had no symptoms or the symptoms
went away." (36 percent)
- "I forgot." (64 percent)
- "I wanted to save money." (35 percent)
- "I didn't believe the drugs were
effective." (33 percent)
- "I didn't think I needed to take
them." (31 percent)
- "I had painful or frightening side
effects." (28 percent)
- "The drugs prevented me from
doing other things I wanted to do."
(25 percent)
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- What is the name of the medication?
- Is that a brand name? If so, is there a generic? Would you recommend the generic instead?
- What is the purpose of this medication? Why does it make sense for my condition?
- What good effect will probably result from my taking the medication?
- What side effects, if any, might I experience? Is there any way to alleviate them?
- What will happen to my health if I decide not to take the medication?
- What is the starting dose?
- For how long and how often will I take the medication?
- Are there any special instructions, such as taking the medication with food or on an empty stomach?
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- Can I drink alcoholic beverages while I'm taking the medication?
- Will this medication interact with any of the other drugs I'm taking? (Show your doctor a complete list of vitamins, herbs, supplements and over-the-counter medications you're taking.)
- What should I do if I forget to take a pill? Should I just skip that dose or take a double dose next time?
- Is it safe to stop taking the medication abruptly? Why or why not?
- How will I know the medication is working? What is my goal? (For example, LDL cholesterol under 100 or blood pressure under 120/80.)
- What is the maximum amount of this pill that can be safely taken daily?
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Ask these questions with every new medication you take, especially one you'll be taking for some time.
By being informed, you'll gain the
most from the medication, safeguard
your health and prevent mistakes.
Your good health may be dependent
on you being an informed consumer. |
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