Have you occasionally forgotten to take your prescribed medicine by accident? Probably all of us have at one point, am I right? Usually, we disregard the oversight, thinking it is not a big deal, and continue to complete the dose. But did you know?

The practice of not taking medicines as directed by the doctor has a designated term – Medication non-adherence! Haven’t heard of it before? Don’t worry; you have landed at the right place. We will explore medical non-adherence, its causes, and its consequences in detail here. Let’s go.

Did you know? Medication nonadherence costs approximately $100 billion in preventable medical costs yearly! This has become a major global concern, compromising the health and economic outcomes for individuals and society as a whole, as shown in the graph below.

Loss of revenue due to medication non-adherence globally and in the U.S. (in billion US dollars)

What Is Medication Non-Adherence?

First and foremost, it is important to understand the meaning of medication adherence and grasp the concept of medication non-adherence. Medication adherence is a patient’s practice of actively, voluntarily, and collaboratively taking their medication as prescribed by their healthcare professional.

Now, failure to do so is considered medication non-adherence in the healthcare industry. Research suggests that an adherence rate of over 80% is desirable for optimal therapeutic efficiency. There are several medication management solutions that can help decrease medication nonadherence.

Types Of Medication Non-Adherence

Medication non-adherence can be classified as primary and secondary based on its cause. Primary medication non-adherence occurs when the patients do not fill a new prescription. This leads to them not initiating the medicines as prescribed by the doctor in the first place.

Whereas secondary medication non-adherence happens when a patient fulfills their prescription and gets the meds but fails to take them as prescribed by their doctor. Furthermore, medical non-adherence can be categorized into unintentional and unintentional as well.

Unintentional non-adherence occurs when a patient attempts to follow the prescribed course of care but experiences difficulties due to events beyond his or her control. Examples include forgetting to take a drug, having problems utilizing it, being unable to pay for it, or having difficulty remembering or comprehending the instructions. 

However, when a patient voluntarily chooses not to follow the treatment guidelines, this is known as intentional non-adherence.

This could occur for numerous reasons, including concerns about adverse reactions, reservations about the effectiveness of the therapy, values or personal beliefs that contradict the prescribed course of treatment, or the patient’s judgment that the prescription is unnecessary.

It is important to discuss these causes in detail to minimize and hopefully eliminate medication non-adherence gradually in the future.

Causes of Medication Nonadherence

Despite the clear benefits of medication adherence, it can take time to follow it. Many people find it hard to stick to their medication plan without the appropriate medication management tools. Let’s look at some common reasons that lead to medication nonadherence.

1) Forgetfulness

Many patients struggle to remember their medication schedules, especially if they have complex schedules or multiple prescriptions. Complicated medication schedules can be confusing, but medication synchronization can simplify the process and reduce the likelihood of missed doses.

While forgetfulness is a genuine concern in seniors, you can remedy this by using medication reminder devices or setting alerts. When you check in regularly with caregivers or patients, you can decrease medication errors and improve medication adherence.

2) Side effects

Fear of or experiencing unpleasant side effects can lead to skipping doses or discontinuing medication. This fear can develop when the communication between healthcare providers, caregivers, and patients is not completely clear. The best way to eliminate this cause of medication nonadherence is to ask important questions when visiting the doctor and eliminate any doubts that one may have.

3) Cost

Approximately 1 in 5 adults reported nonadherence due to cost-related reasons in 2022. High costs can make it difficult for patients to afford their medications, leading to rationing or skipping doses.

4) Stigma or Denial

Patients may not fully grasp the significance of their prescribed medications or how they work, leading to medication errors. Patients may avoid taking medication due to negative perceptions surrounding their medical condition or because they are in denial about their health needs. Patients may doubt the necessity or effectiveness of their medications, leading to inconsistent or discontinued use.

5) Fear of addiction

Concerns about becoming addicted to or dependent on certain medications can cause patients to reduce or stop their prescribed doses. Lack of proper support from healthcare providers can leave patients feeling unsupported and less likely to adhere. Communicating this fear to the doctor can help eliminate this worry. Explaining the rationale to the healthcare provider or caregiver can help the patient by getting an alternative prescribed or clearing the confusion about the medicine.

These reasons can affect anyone, regardless of their health condition or background. Addressing medication nonadherence requires a comprehensive approach that includes patient education, support systems, and practical solutions.

Consequences Of Medication Nonadherence

Apart from the devastating statistics mentioned earlier, medication nonadherence leads to other significant consequences, such as:

• Wastage of medicines: when patients do not follow their prescribed medical treatment, it leads to an increase in medicinal waste.
• Progression of a condition/disease: The most dire consequence of missing medication is the deterioration of the patient’s health.

• Decreased functional abilities: As a result of deteriorating health, patients may also experience losing their functional capabilities and need help performing the basic activities of daily life. This worsens their quality of life.
• Increase in the healthcare system’s workload: if patients fail to stick to their medication regimen, they will need to visit the doctor more frequently. This leads to increased use of medical resources such as nursing homes and hospitalizations.

In A Nutshell

Medication non-adherence is a huge problem in America. It can be caused intentionally or unintentionally due to a multitude of reasons. The best way to decrease the rate of medication non-adherence is indeed a healthy patient-physician relationship.

Wherein the patients can seek out answers that satiate their anxiety around medications, and physicians can perhaps contribute by motivating and nudging them in the right direction. Medication adherence will only lead to a healthier and more fulfilling life in the long run!