Why Taking Your Medication On Time Matters

If you are one of the 131 million people in the U.S. who take prescription medication, there is a good chance you are not taking it as prescribed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50% of people do not take their medication as prescribed. While taking medication a little late or forgetting to take it at all may not sound bad, the truth is failing to take medication as directed leads to 125,000 deaths each year and up to 25% of all hospitalizations. In fact, your chance of dying from not taking medication as prescribed is 10 times greater than dying of homicide if you are under age 50—FYI, it is 30 times greater if you are over age 50.

In addition to being potentially fatal, failing to take your medication as directed can result in wasted medication (and money), increased risk of complications, decreased effectiveness, worsening of the health condition, withdrawal symptoms, and more.

Whenever you are prescribed a new medication, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about how and when to take what’s being prescribed. Many medications are time sensitive. For example, birth control pills are more effective when taken at the same time each day as this ensures the right amount of the medication is in a patient’s system at any given time.

Some common conditions often treating with time-sensitive medications include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Cholesterol
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Allergies
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Blood clotting
• Thyroid medications
• Pain medications
• Antibiotics

Regardless of what you are taking, following your doctor’s instructions is the best way to get maximum results from what’s prescribed and maintain the best possible health and quality of life for yourself.

If you are struggling to stick to a routine, click here for easy-to-follow strategies for staying consistent and safe.

If you miss or are late taking a daily medication, call your doctor or pharmacist for advice on when to take your next dose. Taking it later the same day is not always the best answer, especially if you are on multiple medications and dosage schedules.

Never stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor first. In some cases, doing so can lead to withdrawal symptoms or other serious side effects. If there is a reason why you can’t take your medication as prescribed (because it makes you feel sick or you are afraid of the side effects) talk to your doctor about it.  There are usually alternatives to consider.

Adhering to your medication routine is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your health and keep issues under control. The effort it takes to stay on top of daily dosing is worth the reward of improved health and quality of life.

Dr. Lisa J. Downing-Forget, MD, MPH practices Geriatric Primary Care at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.