{"id":3167,"date":"2018-09-21T16:19:29","date_gmt":"2018-09-21T20:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=3167"},"modified":"2023-07-05T09:49:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T13:49:17","slug":"medication-adherence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should take medication as prescribed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking medication when you need it is an important part of protecting your health and managing chronic conditions. Medication adherence statistics, however, are sobering. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acpjournals.org\/doi\/10.7326\/0003-4819-157-11-201212040-00538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that around 20% to 30% of prescriptions are never filled, and approximately 50% of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That can be dangerous. Failure to follow medication regimens is estimated to cause approximately 125,000 deaths each year and is responsible for at least 10% of hospital admissions in the United States. In addition, it puts a big strain on the healthcare system, costing between $100 and $289 billion annually. So, what does medication adherence really mean? Why is it important? And how can patients ensure they are taking their Rx as they should?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is medication adherence?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication adherence and compliance are two terms used to describe the extent to which patients refill their medication on time, take their medication as prescribed, as well as whether or not they continue to take a prescribed medication. There are many factors that contribute to medication adherence and compliance, such as remembering to fill a prescription, taking a medication at the right time, and remembering to follow all instructions regarding the medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA patient is considered adherent if they take 80% of their prescribed medicine(s),\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edhub.ama-assn.org\/steps-forward\/module\/2702595#:~:text=A%20patient%20is%20considered%20adherent,)%2C%20they%20are%20considered%20nonadherent.&amp;text=How%20common%20is%20medication%20nonadherence,prescribed%20about%20half%20the%20time.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to the American Medical Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Taking any less than 80% of your medication means you are nonadherent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For long-term therapies, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3068890\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Health Organization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> defines patient adherence as not only adhering to medication therapy but also making diet and lifestyle changes per the recommendations of a healthcare provider. For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ways-to-manage-high-blood-pressure-medication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blood pressure control<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> often requires more than taking an antihypertensive. It requires eating a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is medication adherence important?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The consequences of poor medication adherence can be dire and may include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Difficulty in optimizing medication and dosage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your healthcare provider chooses your medication therapy and the dosage based on parameters they measure or witness. When deciding whether to adjust a dose or change a medication, it is difficult to make the best determination if you have not been taking your current therapy as prescribed. For example, your healthcare professional may ask you to take a 10mg tablet every day of a blood pressure medication for one month, and then return to the office for an evaluation of the effectiveness. If you only take the medication on average 4 out of every 7 days, the evaluation of the medication\u2019s effectiveness for you in one month won\u2019t be accurate or depict the medication\u2019s true potential to treat your high blood pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disease progression: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disease progression<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">refers to the way an illness affects a patient from the early stages to its peak, and finally to its resolution. \u201cMany chronic illnesses are progressive, and medications may be available to slow that progression,\u201d says Dr. Emmel. However, as many as 1 in 3 patients with a long-term health condition never initiate a newly prescribed medication, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmaceutical-journal.com\/news-and-analysis\/third-of-patients-never-take-medicine-for-a-long-term-condition-say-researchers\/20205405.article?firstPass=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to adherence rates published in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pharmaceutical Journal<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If an illness is not treated, the progression can not be slowed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk of life-threatening complications:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cSome of the consequences\u2014depending on the chronic illness\u2014can include a higher risk of suffering a life-threatening complication,\u201d Dr. Emmel warns. Dr. Roxanne agrees and offers this scenario as an example: \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many patients with high blood pressure present to the emergency room nationwide every day with end-organ damage that is often caused by their blood pressure being high from not taking their medications.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>More ER and hospital visits:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Medication non-compliance can lead to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24030129\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trips to the emergency room and hospital visits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as avoidable healthcare costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that these consequences can be avoided with good medication adherence, but what does that look like?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why patients don\u2019t take their medication<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient-related factors<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/10-reasons-why-patients-dont-follow-doctor-orders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reasons behind medication nonadherence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be multifaceted. \u201cMany patients have hidden reasons they are not adherent to their medications,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drashleyroxanne.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ashley Roxanne<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, DO, a resident physician in Atlanta.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beliefs and attitudes<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients may be in denial about the seriousness of the condition their prescriber is trying to treat for them. Another issue affecting medication adherence may be a patient\u2019s lack of trust that a medication will be helpful for them, especially if the benefits are not initially apparent. It can be difficult to sway a patient\u2019s beliefs when the benefits are not immediate and physically obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive functioning and memory<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cognitive function and memory can affect a patient\u2019s ability to remember to take their medications every day. Luckily, there are many modern advancements to help overcome this hurdle. The simplest of these may be to use the weekly pill box organizers. This is a great way for family or caregivers to help the patient stay organized and be able to see if they have taken their medication. There are pill containers with alarms that will remind the patient to take their medication as well. While cognitive function can make it more challenging, medication adherence is still possible with the help of a few different tools available.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Socioeconomic status<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of medications can also be a big hurdle. \u201cFor a patient on a fixed income or working a minimum wage job,\u201d Dr. Roxanne says, \u201csometimes the choice comes down to \u2018Do I pay my electricity bill or do I get my prescriptions this week?\u2019&#8221; Unfortunately, non-compliance has a cost too. Ultimately, untreated medical conditions lead to higher healthcare costs when treating more serious, uncontrolled conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complexity of treatment regimen<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, the more medications a patient must take at different times of the day, the more likely they are to miss a dose or take it incorrectly. There are other factors that may add to the complexity such as medications that must be taken on an empty stomach compared to those that must be taken with food. Some are less effective, or even dangerous if taken in the presence of certain foods. Treatment plans that call for administration during your working hours may present challenges, especially if you work in an environment where you can not have easy access to your medications. If you travel often, maintaining access to your medication can be challenging as well. Maintaining medication compliance and adherence requires a good deal of proactive planning on the patient\u2019s part, especially for more complex regimens that have higher pill counts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Side effects and drug interactions<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFor many chronic diseases, medications don&#8217;t necessarily make patients feel any better,\u201d says Aaron Emmel, Pharm.D., founder and program director of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharmacytechscholar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pharmacytechscholar.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cA great example are statin medications: for those at risk, they can reduce the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. But this isn&#8217;t something that the patient feels, and they may even be experiencing side effects that are bothersome. This can make it hard to stay motivated to continue taking the medication.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also situations where two distinct medications that you need for your overall health don\u2019t play well with each other. Your healthcare professional may have to change one of the medications or have you take them at opposite times of the day to avoid these interactions. Certain foods can present challenges for medication effectiveness too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare situational factors<\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provider-patient relationship<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The patient\u2019s relationship with the provider is a key component of their trust in the medication therapy chosen for them. When a patient feels that the provider has a personal and vested interest in their health, they tend to take their recommendations to heart. This is especially important when the provider is making lifestyle change recommendations such as weight loss or smoking cessation. Patients are more successful when there is a cadence of regular follow-up and support.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to healthcare providers and programs<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many patients may acknowledge they need help achieving their health goals, they don\u2019t know where to start. For those who are insured, the insurance program often makes available a list of providers they have access to, as well as support programs for fitness, mental health, and other aspects of their well-being. Navigating these benefits can still be challenging for some as many of these benefits are accessible online, and computer access is not something every patient has. This can also be much more difficult for those who are underinsured or not insured at all. Even if they can locate the needed service, making payment arrangements can be the next big hurdle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reasons behind a patient choosing not to fill a prescription or take it as prescribed may be complex, but they don\u2019t mitigate the consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to improve medication adherence<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medications are only helpful if you remember to fill them and take them as prescribed. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that can help you do just that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simplifying treatments<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important that your prescribers and pharmacists are aware of all of the medications you are taking. They will help make sure there are no duplications in therapy that can be unnecessary or even harmful. There are also many new medications which are \u201ccombination\u201d drugs that combine 2 or more commonly used medications into one tablet, which simplifies your medication routine. This can have a positive impact on medication adherence.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patient education<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMy biggest recommendation for increasing medication adherence is to maintain an open dialogue with your healthcare provider,\u201d Dr. Emmel advises. \u201cMake sure that you are getting all of the information you need regarding your health conditions and the treatments that are being offered. If you have any concerns, or any barriers to accessing a medication, inform your provider.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you pick up your prescriptions, take advantage of the opportunity to be counseled by your pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you may have or clarify any misinformation you may have received about your medications. This is your free chance to ask any questions you have about your medications- take advantage! Pharmacists and your prescribers will also give you advice on how to properly take your medications. For example, should it be taken in the morning or evening? With or without food? Can I drink grapefruit juice when I take this medication? These are all important pieces of information you should know prior to starting your treatment as they affect clinical outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication reminder tools<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are so many tools available now to help you remember to take your medications. From simple \u201cday of the week\u201d pill boxes to machines that will sound an alarm and physically dispense medication needed at that time, there really is a solution for almost everyone. You can even download reminder apps to your phone to assist! One of the advantages of these tools is that it is a great way for concerned friends and family to get involved in your medication routines. Some apps and machines even let them remotely monitor your compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle and schedule changes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key to being able to adjust to major changes in your schedules and routines is keeping your medications organized and picking up your refills from the pharmacy before you run out. This will make last-minute travel or changes in your work schedule easier to adapt to without affecting your medication adherence. If you experience a significant change that is difficult to adapt to, speak with your prescriber to see if it can be accommodated with a change in therapy to make things easier. Open communication with your healthcare team is always important!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be honest<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust between healthcare professionals and patients is crucial. When you\u2019re honest with your healthcare provider about why you\u2019re not taking your medication, your physician can work with you to find a solution. For example, if cost is a barrier, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to suggest a lower-cost alternative. Or, you can always search for a SingleCare coupon to save on your prescriptions. When you work closely with your healthcare team, it leads to better patient care and health outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-prescription-coupons-from-singlecare\/\"><b>10 prescription drug coupons with the biggest savings<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take steps to communicate clearly<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help you communicate with your healthcare provider, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/institutes-nih\/nih-office-director\/office-communications-public-liaison\/clear-communication\/talking-your-doctor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the National Institutes of Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recommends you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write down a list of questions\/concerns before your appointment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring a close friend, caretaker, or family member with you to your appointment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take notes (or have a your companion take notes) during your appointment about what the doctor says<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn how to access your medical records, so you can keep track of important information<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take time to understand your insurance coverage to avoid unexpected copayments on doctor\u2019s visits and prescription refills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask for the doctor\u2019s contact information and their preferred method of communication in case you have follow-up questions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that nurses and pharmacists are also good sources for patient education\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medicare-part-d-plans\/\"><b>Understanding Medicare Part D plans<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorporate medication in your routine<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also a good idea to make your treatment regimen a regular part of your routine. That means linking a medication dose to something you do daily, like brushing your teeth. If it\u2019s still hard to remember, use a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-medication-reminder-apps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mobile phone app or alarm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to alert you when it\u2019s time to take your medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication adherence is a complicated problem, but taking some simple steps can help to improve poor adherence and patient outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits of taking medications as prescribed<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking your medications as prescribed is for the benefit of your health and well-being. Long-term control of your blood pressure (hypertension), blood glucose (diabetes), and other important parameters have been proven to lead to longer, healthier lives. If you have risk factors for heart disease, kidney disease, or other serious conditions, being compliant with early treatment and intervention is key to your success in controlling these conditions and their impact on your life. Work with your doctor and pharmacist to find the best regimen that you can stick with and be successful. When you do, your health wins!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taking medication when you need it is an important part of protecting your health and managing chronic conditions. Medication adherence statistics, however, are sobering. Studies show that around 20% to 30% of prescriptions are never filled, and approximately 50% of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.\u00a0 That can be dangerous. Failure to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":12109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[788],"coauthors":[12545],"class_list":["post-3167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-drug-safety","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Medication adherence matters. Here\u2019s why | SingleCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A third of people do not take their medication as prescribed, and that\u2019s dangerous. Medication adherence helps you get better, faster.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Here&#039;s why you should take your Rx as prescribed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Medication adherence matters\u2014but many in the U.S. aren&#039;t following it\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Checkup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Here&#039;s why you should take your Rx as prescribed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Medication adherence matters\u2014but many in the U.S. aren&#039;t following it\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katy Anderson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Why you should take medication as prescribed\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2309,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Drug safety\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Health Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/\",\"name\":\"Medication adherence matters. Here\u2019s why | SingleCare\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00\",\"description\":\"A third of people do not take their medication as prescribed, and that\u2019s dangerous. Medication adherence helps you get better, faster.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Rx pill bottle: Don't take medication as prescribed\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/medication-adherence\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why you should take medication as prescribed\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare\",\"description\":\"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"SingleCare\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"SingleCare\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/singlecare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/SingleCare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/singlecare\\\/?hl=en\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/singlecare\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Medication adherence matters. Here\u2019s why | SingleCare","description":"A third of people do not take their medication as prescribed, and that\u2019s dangerous. Medication adherence helps you get better, faster.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Here's why you should take your Rx as prescribed","og_description":"Medication adherence matters\u2014but many in the U.S. aren't following it","og_url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/","og_site_name":"The Checkup","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","article_published_time":"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Here's why you should take your Rx as prescribed","twitter_description":"Medication adherence matters\u2014but many in the U.S. aren't following it","twitter_creator":"@SingleCare","twitter_site":"@SingleCare","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katy Anderson","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"Why you should take medication as prescribed","datePublished":"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00","dateModified":"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/"},"wordCount":2309,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png","keywords":["Drug safety"],"articleSection":["Health Education"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/","name":"Medication adherence matters. Here\u2019s why | SingleCare","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png","datePublished":"2018-09-21T20:19:29+00:00","dateModified":"2023-07-05T13:49:17+00:00","description":"A third of people do not take their medication as prescribed, and that\u2019s dangerous. Medication adherence helps you get better, faster.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Blog_092118_Medications-as-prescribed.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"Rx pill bottle: Don't take medication as prescribed"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-adherence\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why you should take medication as prescribed"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","name":"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare","description":"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"SingleCare","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"SingleCare"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","https:\/\/x.com\/SingleCare","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/singlecare\/?hl=en","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/singlecare\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/author\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3167"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}