America's 'Other Drug Problem:' How Pharmacists Can Help with Compliance

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Sep 30, 2010, 09:45 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In honor of American Pharmacists Month, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) encourages consumers to hold an open dialogue with their pharmacists about a growing problem in the United States, the proper usage of and adherence to medications. In the US alone, "America's other drug problem," or nonadherence to prescribed medication regimens, results in up to 125,000 deaths and costs the health care system more than $177 billion every year.

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Every year, APhA conducts its public education campaign, "Know Your MEDICINE, Know Your PHARMACIST" urging consumers to get to know their pharmacist. Conducted throughout the year, but highlighted especially in October during the annual American Pharmacists Month celebrations, the campaign underscores the link between knowing your pharmacist and the safe and effective use of medications.

In a recent Harvard Medical School study, more than 20% of first time prescriptions went unfilled. Primary nonadherence, or the failure to fill a first prescription, was even higher among patients with chronic diseases – diabetes 31.4% and hypertension 28.4%.

There are many reasons why patients do not take their medication as prescribed. Examples include patients choosing not to take a medication because they may not believe in its value or its helpfulness, not taking a prescription regularly because they may not have a full understanding of the medication or the routine, or they may simply forget to take them.

Many consumers may not understand the implications of incorrectly taking their medications, and the symptoms may not be noticeable or be as minor as a small headache and fatigue. Not adhering properly to a medication regimen may drastically alter the effectiveness of treatment and possibly be life-threatening. A key example, patients with cardiovascular problems who do not adhere to their medications are at increased risk for stroke, heart attack and other cardiac conditions. In diabetics, improper adherence to medications and treatments can lead to debilitating complications such as increased blood sugar, amputations, blindness, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Patients may not know that they are not taking a medication correctly. A few examples of nonadherence include:

Delaying or not refilling a prescription
Discontinuing a medication before the therapy course is completed
Skipping Doses, and taking more or less of a prescribed medication
Altering the dosing schedule or taking a pill at the wrong time
Holding on to partially used or expired medications, "just in case"

"Medication adherence is a significant problem for the US healthcare system, and as any healthcare provider will tell you 'drugs don't work in patients who don't take them,'" stated Thomas Menighan, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO. "Pharmacists are the medication experts and are specifically trained to help consumers with their medication issues and questions, including adherence. Your pharmacist can help you coordinate a better medication schedule and is available to discuss proper medication usage, food/drug interactions, side effects, dosing, generics and over-the-counter medications, compliance issues and more."

Pharmacists also offer basic healthcare services such as blood pressure screenings and immunizations, to monitor and enhance a medication's effectiveness and increase the public's overall health. APhA encourages patients to speak with their pharmacist about available services and consultations. The association would also like remind consumers that it is important to use only one pharmacy and maintain an up-to-date medication list, which can facilitate the monitoring of healthcare progression and medication adherence.

About the American Pharmacists Association

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.

SOURCE American Pharmacists Association