The failure to take medications as prescribed, also known as non-adherence, is a serious problem that can lead to substantial worsening of a disease, increased health care costs and even death. Estimates show 1 in 5 new prescriptions are never filled. Of those patients who do fill their prescription, 50% take their medication incorrectly or inconsistently, and 29% will stop taking them due to side effects. Non-adherence is to blame for up to 50% of treatment failures, 33-69% of all hospitalizations, and approximately 125,000 deaths every year.
Americans are not filling or taking their medications as prescribed the problem costs more and affects more people than any one disease
Posted
and last updated
Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.