Medication adherence is very important for us as a pharmacy in Orlando, Florida. We know that when a patient is not taking the medication as prescribed, their condition can get complicated. So we always encourage patients and their families to coordinate with us. The pharmacy is also part of your healthcare team. If you have concerns about your medications, feel free to ask us.
However, we also know that there are certain reasons why patients are unable to adhere to their medication intake.
Here are the common hindrances of proper medication adherence.
- Polypharmacy
This is when a patient is taking more than one medication in a day. Polypharmacy can keep a person from adhering to their medication schedule as they may get confused with how many meds they need to take at a time. - Absence of Symptoms
The lack of symptoms can make the person feel that they are already healed completely. Yet, the absence of the known symptoms should not be an indicator of when to stop taking the medicines. They should still take the medicines as instructed by the doctor. - Fear of Side Effects
Many medications have undesirable effects on the person taking them. Because they don’t want to experience these effects, some patients stop taking the meds. If this happens, coordinate with your physician or pharmacist first to ask for alternative meds. - Medication Cost
Some patients also choose not to take their medicines at all because they don’t have the funds to buy them. This is a very sad scenario. Yet, it is important to know that there are affordable medications in Florida. High costs should not be a reason not to take medicines. Ask the pharmacist for a more affordable option of the prescription. - Misunderstanding of Effects
The lack of a correct understanding of how the meds will take effect can also result in non-adherence. When patients have the wrong expectations about their meds, they might think that the drugs are not working for their condition. - Depression
This mental illness can also keep a person from adhering to their prescriptions. They may not take their medicines at all or take these in excess dosages. Depression is a very serious condition that can affect even a person’s overall health. - Medication Dependence
Patients can get worried about becoming dependent on their meds. To address this, it is important for patients or their caregivers to have the right understanding about their meds so they will have the peace of mind when taking the drugs.
As a medical equipment pharmacy in Florida, our team at Rx Care Pharmacy is here to help you meet your pharmaceutical needs. If you have concerns about prescriptions and medical equipment, feel free to contact us.
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