People today face a lot of healthcare challenges caused by a diverse array of factors. One of the most impactful but least frequently discussed is a lack of medication adherence (taking your medication regularly as instructed). You typically need at least 80 percent adherence to achieve optimal treatment effects, but most patients only attain 50 percent adherence.

Healthcare providers have a variety of ways to discern whether you’re following your medication regime correctly or not. They may want to count your remaining pills to see if they accurately reflect the days between appointments or refills, check your pharmacy records or even request a blood or urine test to verify the drug levels in your system.

Your healthcare provider may also ask you for a self-report, but they may take your word with caution, as patients may lie out of embarrassment to hide mistakes or simply fail to report accurate adherence because they genuinely forgot whether they took their medication every day or not.

Even if patients don’t know or say, doctors may still be able to tell. It’s better to be upfront if you’ve missed some doses so that your doctor can adjust their medication plan to make it easier for you to adhere to it and ensure you receive the treatment you need to improve your condition.

Signs You’re Not Following Your Medication Regime

Inconsistent Symptom Management: If your symptoms are worsening or if you’re experiencing unexpected health issues despite being on medication, it’s possible its effectiveness has been weakened due to inconsistent dosages.

Cognitive or Emotional Changes: Feeling confused, forgetful or experiencing mood swings can be side effects of not adhering to your medication plan. Taking prescriptions consistently can protect your mood and mental stability.

Physical Symptoms: Some patients may experience physical side effects like nausea, dizziness, fatigue or chronic pain if they don’t take their medication as prescribed. Ironically, if your medication has similar side effects, it may be difficult to tell whether these symptoms are par for the course or not. Your doctor will attempt to discern the source of what you are experiencing and adjust your plan accordingly.

Frequent Hospital Visits: If you’re making repeated trips to the hospital for issues your medication is supposed to manage, it could be a sign that you’re not adhering to your medication or a sign that your prescription needs to be adjusted.

Changes in Routine: If you’re suspicious that your medication isn’t working as well as it used to but you’re not experiencing noticeable side effects, your doctor may be able to identify the source by working backward. If you’ve had a recent change in your daily routine or lifestyle, such as if you have a new job or have moved, it might have disrupted your treatment plan or altered the effectiveness of your current prescription.

The Ramifications of Medication Noncompliance

A 2018 study suggests nonadherence was likely directly responsible for more than half of treatment failures and a quarter of total hospitalizations in the country.

The potential consequences of forgetting even one dose can potentially be extreme, although the consequences do vary based on the condition and medication. Adhering to your medications can prevent conditions or diseases from progressing, reduce the possibility of relapsing or recurrences and lower your risk of experiencing harmful drug interactions if you’re taking multiple medications.

The risks of being noncommittal with antibiotics in particular can be especially dangerous, as your body can become resistant to the medications. Not only can this make it harder to fight off the infection, but it can potentially make you resistant to antibiotics prescribed to fight future infections, putting your overall well-being at risk.

Suffice it to say that medication adherence is critical, but it’s also understandably challenging. If your prescription is the result of a life-changing diagnosis, adjusting to a suddenly strict regime while coping with this revelation can be difficult.

Patients are human, and humans make mistakes. Most substantial side effects associated with medication noncompliance are due to large gaps in medication schedules. If you miss a couple of doses, you’ll most likely be fine, but it’s important to try not to.

The doctors and pharmacists at St. Hope Healthcare will help take the stress of medication adherence off your plate, creating a personalized treatment plan that strikes a balance between what you need and what’s feasible so you never feel too overwhelmed by your medication regime.

Feel More Secure in Your Recovery With Experienced Pharmacists Who Make Adhering to Your Treatment Easier

Houston area residents trust St. Hope Pharmacy to fulfill their medications promptly and provide a thorough education on what they’re taking as well the when, how and why. Adhere to your medication regime with confidence when you have qualified professionals available to support you – whether you’re a St. Hope Healthcare patient or not.

Contact one of our six pharmacies located in Bellaire, Conroe, Houston, Sugar Land and Dickinson to discuss transferring your prescription today.