Taking Medicine in the Right Way: Most Important but Most Neglected

Authors: Mohiuddin AK

DOI: 10.23880/phoa-16000218

Volume 6, Issue 2

Abstract

Proper use of medicine or taking medicine in correct order is essential to cure any disease. According to the WHO, lack of adherence to treatment regimens leads to major problems among patients, mostly with chronic illnesses. “Right administration” depends on at least 5 right factors- -right patient, right drug, right time, right dose and right route. “Medicines won’t work if you don’t take it right”--This simple fact is not understood by most people in the world, as a result still more than half of the patients with chronic diseases in the developed world do not take their medicine correctly-says WHO. Patients with chronic diseases may find it particularly difficult to adhere because they frequently need to take their medications for an extended period of time, sometimes for the remainder of their lives. There are several reasons why patients may find it challenging to adhere to treatment regimens, and CDC estimates that medication noncompliance leads to 30 to 50% of chronic disease treatment failures. Poor adherence may cause treatment outcomes to not be achieved, symptoms to worsen, and one’s health to deteriorate.

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