Michelle RifferDigital Health
March 27, 2017
Turn Medication Adherence to Medication Dedication, but How?
Looking at my prescriptions lined up on the counter, I realized although they’re written by my doctors for good reason, I don’t always take them as directed on a consistent basis. For whatever reason, I subconsciously assign importance to each based on my perception of the severity of consequences of missing a dose. Some are non-negotiable; I’ve been taking insulin since my diagnosis of T1 diabetes at age 6. I learned at a young age that skipping even one dose could be life or death. Recently I’ve started steroids several times a day for Addison’s disease, and taking a dose an hour late can make me terribly sick and skipping a day could send me into shock. Under no circumstances will I forget or delay those medicines. However, I’ve been on thyroid meds since I was 9, and as important as they are, I know won’t kill me if I forget a day here or there. I’m equally forgetful when it comes to other 2 or 3 times daily meds. Finishing a 10-day course of antibiotics when I feel better by day 7? I’ve been guilty of forgetting to finish once I feel better on more than one occasion. If I can make certain medications a priority, why can’t I do the same for all? Apparently, I’m not alone; according to PhRMA (2011):
32 million Americans use three or more medicines daily
75% of adults are non-adherent in one or more ways (forgetting, stopping earlier than directed, taking less thank prescribed or not refilling scripts)
The economic impact of non-adherence is estimated to cost $100 – $300 billion annually
I won’t be quite as nonchalant to miss my next dose after learning the sobering statistic that medical non-adherence results in an estimated 125,000 needless deaths per year. With all the technology available to remind us to take our medications, in addition to other simple strategies that are easily implemented, there’s really no excuse for most of us to skip on these important parts of our health.
What obstacles do you have when it comes to taking your medications? What tricks do you have to remember to take your medications? Please share them below!