Using it the right way

Unfortunately, many people do not take their medications correctly:

• More than 50% of people do not take their medication as prescribed.
• 20% of people take less medication than prescribed by their doctor.
• 10% of people do not take any medication at all, even after purchasing the medication.
• 10% of people do not get their prescription filled at all (for some health conditions, this figure reaches as high as 50%).
• 30% of people stop taking a medication before they are scheduled to.

Not taking medications properly leads to unnecessary hospital admissions, illness, and even deaths. It also costs the health care system millions of dollars every year:

• 10% of hospital admissions result directly from not taking medications as recommended.
• About one-third of seniors admitted to the hospital had a history of not taking their medications properly.
• Not taking medications properly was a factor in 20% of preventable adverse reactions to medications.
• Adverse reactions to medications may be the one of the top 10 leading causes of death.

However, there is a lot you can do to help take your medication as prescribed. Speak to your pharmacist to learn more about how to take your medication and what to do if you are having trouble using it as prescribed.