Express Scripts Wellness Wire: Medication Adherence
Did you know patients do not take their medicine as prescribed about half the time?
What are common obstacles to proper medication adherence?
- Forgetfulness (busy, distracted, low priority)
- Cost
- Complicated dosing regimens
- Incomplete understanding of medical condition
- Unclear clinical goals or endpoints
- Absence of noticeable symptoms
- Concerns about side effects
How might some of these challenges be solved?
- Organize Medications (pill box, strategic location)
- Reminders (calendar to-do, phone/watch alarm)
- Recruit a friend or family member to help keep you on track
- Simplify dosing regimens
- Fewer # of tablets (combination pills, if appropriate)
- Fewer doses per day (once/day dose, if possible)
- Fewer trips to pharmacy (3-month supply and/or delivery, if possible)
- Understand clinical goals (ex., blood pressure, blood sugar levels)
- Recognize positive benefits of staying adherent as motivation
View the full January Wellness Wire newsletter.