Taking medications at the exact time and in a precise manner as prescribed by your doctor can help you stay healthy and control medical conditions, but not everyone follows those guidelines. What they may not realize is that failing to do so can have terrible implications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20 to 30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled. Patients do not take medication as prescribed in 50 percent of cases. Unfortunately, non-adherence accounts for 30 to 50% of chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 fatalities annually.
“Many people struggle with medication adherence,” said Kelly Erdos, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at Banner Baywood Medical Center. “I always warn my patients that you might be on all the appropriate medications, but if you don’t take them, they won’t work.”
What Causes Medication Non-Adherence?
There are numerous reasons medications are not taken as recommended, and not all are intentional. Here are two typical reasons and five solutions to help you stay on track.
“I’m feeling a lot better. I can discontinue my medication.”
Sticking to your prescription may seem like a chore, especially if you’re feeling better, but you should never stop taking it. There can be various harmful consequences if you do not take a specific drug or medications as advised by your doctor.
“If you start a new blood pressure medicine but don’t take it frequently, it may not control your blood pressure effectively,” Dr. Erdos added. “If your doctor believes you are taking your medicine as prescribed, elevated blood pressure readings may be seen as a warning that you require further medication.”