diabetes Do You Take All Your Meds?

[Pete53]

Many patients may never fill new prescriptions

By Amy Norton Amy Norton Wed Feb 17, 2:16 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Many people whose doctors start them on medications for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure may never fill those prescriptions, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among more than 75,000 Massachusetts patients given drug prescriptions over one year, 22 percent of the prescriptions were never filled. The rate was even higher -- 28 percent -- when the researchers looked only at first-time prescriptions.

Such "non-adherence," the study found, was common even among patients prescribed drugs for chronic conditions that can have serious health consequences.

Between 28 percent and 31 percent of new prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example, went unfilled, according to findings published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Exactly why many patients did not fill their prescriptions is unclear. One possibility is that, when health problems cause few or no symptoms -- as with high blood pressure or high cholesterol -- people may not see the need for a medication.

"If they do not fully understand the reason that they are being prescribed the medication, they may be less likely to take it," lead researcher Dr. Michael A. Fischer, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told Reuters Health in an email.

Cost could also be an issue, Fischer added -- particularly when people are unsure of why a drug is being prescribed.

All of the patients in the study had health insurance. But even with coverage, people may have high co-payments for medications or may be prescribed a drug not covered by their plan, Fischer and his colleagues note.

For their study, the researchers used a database of electronic drug prescriptions for patients in two Massachusetts health plans, along with pharmacy claims records to verify whether the prescriptions were filled.

The study found that of almost 196,000 "e-prescriptions" written between 2004 and 2005, about 78 percent were filled. Of the more than 82,000 prescriptions for new drugs, just under 72 percent were filled.

Patients were least likely to pick up prescriptions for pain drugs, with only 45 percent of new prescriptions being filled. Between one- quarter and one-third of new prescriptions for conditions like depression, asthma and gastrointestinal ills also went unfilled.

More studies, according to Fischer, are needed to weed out the reasons why many people never fill their prescriptions -- whether cost, worry over side effects, a desire to avoid medications or other issues.

For now, he said, people with questions about their new prescriptions should not hesitate to bring them up with their doctors.

"If you are not sure why you are being prescribed a medication, ask your doctor directly," he said. "One of our jobs as physicians is to educate and advise our patients, and being sure that they understand their medication regimen is a big part of that job."

Fischer added that in cases where people have left their prescriptions unfilled, they should not be "afraid" to tell their doctors. "Then they can talk with you about why you are not taking the medication and work with you to find a medication that you can use."

SOURCE: Journal of General Internal Medicine, online February 4, 2010.

[Angelo Hurtado]

i dont take my prozac anymore...it caused me to be depressed all the time but did help with the dreams...ive found an alternative way of medicating that isnt approved by the va lol

[Wings]

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Pleading the 5th. ~Wings

[Commander Bob]

i dont take my prozac anymore...it caused me to be depressed all the time but did help with the dreams...ive found an alternative way of medicating that isnt approved by the va lol

JMHO,....Certain meds take away a portion of one's personality. In this pop a pill world we live in today, you have the walking sleepers, aka zombies.

[cowgirl]

I have forgetfullness but remember when I can, but can't always remember unless I've filled the prescription, reordered the refill and keep the bottles visual until I move them looking for something then my daily focus is messed up then I can forget that I needed to take medicine to keep focused.

I do take my prescribed medications and appreciate the effects, for now. As a patient I believe some medications I've been on for a while are not as effective as orginally applied. I believe my conditions have changed, for better or worse and not being a chemist or doctor, I wonder what next long term dangerous effects are due. So far so good. Still have history documenting being prescribed Vioxx, civilian doctors only keep records 7 years but VA are supposed to keep records indefinitely I think.