Why Don’t People Take Medications as Directed?

Why Don’t People Take Medications as Directed?

There are countless reasons medications aren’t being used as prescribed, and not all of them are intentional. Some people forget to take their medications or have difficulty understanding the directions. Others may stop taking their medications to avoid unpleasant side effects or because they think their medications aren’t effectively treating symptoms.

In some instances, people skip doses so they can make their medications last longer or because they can’t afford to refill their prescriptions right away. While all the above factors may seem like valid reasons not to use medications as directed, misusing medication can often lead to adverse health outcomes and fatality.

Benefits of Using Medication Properly

A better health outcome is the most significant benefit of using medication correctly as prescribed. Doctors prescribe medications to treat your symptoms and to help you manage or overcome certain health conditions. Failing to use medicines as prescribed can result in worsened health, longer recovery, unwanted side effects, substance use disorders, death, and other serious health conditions that require intensive treatment.

Using medication correctly can help you save money that would otherwise be spent on health care costs related to medication mismanagement, such as hospitalization, emergency room visits, and addiction recovery treatment.

(As no any record found in nepal but even developed country like US👇-Each year in the United States, an estimated 125,000 people die from not taking their medications exactly as prescribed by their doctor. Using medications correctly at the right time and in the right way can usually prevent health conditions from becoming worse while also reducing the risk of hospitalization and death. Yet, medications are still not being used as intended approximately 50 percent of the time.)

Parts of a prescription

Prescriber information: The doctor’s name, address and phone number should be clearly written (or preprinted) on the top of the prescription form. …

Patient information: This portion of the prescription should include at least the first and last name of the patient and the age of the patient.

A prescription is the piece of paper on which your doctor writes an order for medicine and which you give to a chemist or pharmacist to get the medicine. … A prescription is a proposal or a plan which gives ideas about how to solve a problem or improve a situation.

Taking your medicine as prescribed or medication adherence is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary conditions, and overall long-term health and well-being. A personal connection with your health-care provider or pharmacist is an important part of medication adherence.

A prescription is an order that is written by you, the physician (or medical student with signature by a physician) to tell the pharmacist what medication you want your patient to take. The basic format of a prescription includes the patient’s name and another patient identifier, usually the date of birth.