Here’s why your patients disregard prescriptions: KevinMD

“Take one-half tablet three times per day with meals, increasing by half each week until reaching a maximum of three tablets three times per day,” Kevin R.R. Williams writes over at KevinMD. “Did you get a new prescription from your doctor? If so, there is a 50 percent chance you will not adhere to label directions. Either the instructions are too complicated, the drugs are too expensive, you do not like the way the medicine makes you feel or a lack of physician follow up makes you question whether they are effective and still required. Taking just the right amount of medication is rare among patients. Too much or too little is common. This frustrates diligent doctors trying to document effective­ness. It also wastes drugs and diminishes health. Through the eyes of patients, much of the prescription compliance problem falls on the shoulders of physicians. Most doctors reverse the blame. Likely, both are at fault to some degree. I have respect for the years of selfless training that physicians under­take. Many are over­worked, yet they tirelessly care for patients streaming into waiting rooms day after day. Each comes with a unique problem and a different history. Yet inside of 10 minutes, a doctor usually offers a prescrip­tion based on past experi­ence and laws of averages — perhaps with the help of a computer. Following up about any adverse side effects is left to the patient. Past situations shape compliance. I hope my experiences are unique but would love honest feed­back on how common they may be.” Kevin R.R. Williams, “Here’s why your patients disregard prescriptions,” KevinMD.com