8 Tips to Sticking to Your Medication Routine

Why You Need to Take Your Medications as Prescribed or Instructed

Sticking to your medication routine also known as medication compliance simply means taking your medications in the right dose, at the right time, in the right way, and at the frequency prescribed by your healthcare provider. Why is this very important? This is because, not taking your medication as prescribed by a doctor or instructed by a pharmacist could make you get sicker, cause more hospital stays, and even death.

Why Don't Some Patients Take Medications as Prescribed

Many patients do not follow their health care provider's instructions due to several reasons such as, not understanding the directions, forgetfulness, multiple medications with different regimens, unpleasant side effects or the medication doesn’t seem to be working. Cost can also be a factor causing medication non-adherence, especially in poor economic environments patients can’t afford to fill their prescriptions or decide to take less than the prescribed dose to make the prescription last longer. “However, to help you get the best results from your medications taking your medicine as instructed is very important,” says Kimberly DeFronzo, R.Ph., M.S., M.B.A., a Consumer Safety Officer in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Tips to Help You Take Your Medicine

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.  “Because your pharmacist is an expert in medications, they can help suggest how best to take your medications,” says DeFronzo. However, you play the most important part by taking all of your medications as directed.

Here are 8 tips that may help: 

1. Take your medication at the same time every day.
2. Tie taking your medications with a daily routine like brushing your teeth or getting ready for bed. Before choosing mealtime for your routine, check if your medication should be taken on a full or empty stomach.
3. Keep a “medicine calendar” with your pill bottles and note each time you take a dose.
4. Use a pill container. Some types have sections for multiple doses at different times, such as morning, lunch, evening, and night.
5. When using a pill container, refill it at the same time each week. For example, every Sunday morning after breakfast.
6. Purchase timer caps for your pill bottles and set them to go off when your next dose is due. Some pill boxes also have timer functions.
7. When travelling, be certain to bring enough of your medication, plus a few days extra, in case your return is delayed.
8. If you’re flying, keep your medication in your carry-on bag to avoid lost luggage. Temperatures inside the cargo hold could damage your medication.

Here are two very useful FDA websites with more tips and tools to help you take your medication as prescribed: “Are You Taking Your Medication as Prescribed?” and “Updates and Information for Consumers.”

If you have questions about your medication, don’t be shy -- ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist and don’t delay.  Remember, the life you save may be your own!

Original article was posted on the US FDA website on 16/2/2016