Are You Taking Medication as Prescribed?

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/

Medication adherence, or taking medications correctly, is generally defined as the extent to which patients take medication as prescribed by their doctors. This involves factors such as getting prescriptions filled, remembering to take medication on time, and understanding the directions.

Common barriers to medication adherence include

• the inability to pay for medications
• disbelief that the treatment is necessary or helping
• difficulty keeping up with multiple medications and complex dosing schedules
• confusion about how and when to take the medication

Poor adherence can interfere with the ability to treat many diseases, leading to greater complications from the illness and a lower quality of life for patients. Here are some examples of areas in which medication adherence can pose challenges, along with tips for taking medications correctly and talking with health care professionals about your questions and concerns.