Medication Adherence means sticking to your medication routine. It means taking the right dose, at the right time, in the right way.

To be able to achieve the full benefits of a prescription, patients need to consistently take their medications, as prescribed by their doctor. Though this seems like a simple task, in practice, it can be very challenging.

It is estimated that only 50% of patients with a chronic illness take medication as prescribed, and that 20-30% of prescriptions are never even filled.

Some of the reasons people don’t take medication as directed include:

  • Difficulty remembering to take multiple meds, with complicated dosing schedules
  • Feeling like a medication isn’t working or having an effect
  • Having a hard time getting refills when needed
  • Confusion over how a medication is supposed to be taken
  • Inability to pay for medication due to the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs

When patients don’t take medication as prescribed, it can lead to further complications from the illness, a lower quality of life, and an increased risk of death. The CDC estimates that medication non-adherence results in 125,000 deaths per year in the US, and accounts for the failure of 30-50% of treatments for chronic disease.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make it easier to stick to your medication regimen and to feel your best:

1) Communicate with your doctor or pharmacists

This is key. Talk to your doctor and don’t be shy. Ask all and any questions you have, and make sure you fully understand the answers before leaving. This includes:

  • How to take your medication
  • How many refills you have, and when you should stop taking the medication
  • What the common side effects are and what to do about them
  • If the medication is too expensive, see if there are any cheaper options, or options that are covered by your health plan

2) Make things easier on yourself with these little tricks

  • Tie taking medications with a daily routine ( ex. Before brushing your teeth, or after lunch)
  • Keep medications where you can see them, to serve as a reminder
  • Use an alarm reminder on your phone
  • Make use of dosing containers (This one is great for people who take multiple medications at different times of the day)

3) Get your medication from a reputable online pharmacy

Online pharmacies like Mail Order Meds are a great resource for getting essential medications at reasonable prices.  They offer services like refill reminders, pharmacist consultations, and free delivery but often at a bargain.

Instead of delaying medications, rationing them, or quitting taking them altogether, consider getting medications at a discount of up to 80% through Mail Order Meds.

To see if any of your medications are available at a lower price, search for them at Mailordermeds.com or give our customer care team a call.