Why are you not adherent
Some of the most common reasons for non-adherence are forgetfulness, issues with the healthcare system, patient-related barriers, complexities of the treatment as well as cost and availability of treatment. If you are a poly pharmacy patient, taking 4 or more meds everyday, adherence can become even more challenging.
Identify possible reasons why you are not taking your medication by selecting a card to learn more.
FEAR
Patients may be frightened of potential side effects or side effects they had previously with the same or a similar medication. They may have witnessed side effects experienced by a friend or family member who was taking the same or a similar medication and believe that the medication caused these problems.
COST
Cost of medicine can be a barrier to adherence. Patients may not fill medications in the first place or ration what they do fill to extend their supply.
MISUNDERSTANDING
Patients may not understand the need for the medicine, the nature of side effects or the expected time it will take to see results. This is particularly true for patients with chronic illness because taking a medicine every day so that “nothing happens” can be confusing. Failure to see immediate improvement may lead to premature discontinuation.
TOO MANY MEDICATIONS
The greater the number of different medicines prescribed and the higher the dosing frequency, the more likely a patient is to be non adherent.
LACK OF SYMPTOMS
Patients who don’t feel any differently when they start or stop their medicine may see no reason to take it.
WORRY
Concerns about becoming dependent on a medicine also leads to non adherence.
DEPRESSION
Patients who are depressed are less likely to take their medications as prescribed.
MISTRUST
Patients may be suspicious of their doctor’s motives for prescribing certain medications because of recent news coverage of marketing efforts by pharmaceutical companies influencing physician prescribing patterns.