Matters aww es Get Help Taking Your Medicine (NAPS)—According to the American Medical Association (AMA), about one in four new prescriptions is never filled, and about half the time patients don’t take the medications they do have. The Problem People give eight basic reasons for not complying, the AMA adds: 1. Fear. People may be frightened of potential side effects. They may have witnessed side effects experienced by someone else who was taking the same or a similar medication and believe the medication caused the problems. 2. Cost. People may ration what they have to extendtheir supply. 3. Misunderstanding. People may not understand the need for the medi- cine, the nature of the side effects or the time it will take to see results. This is particularly true for those with chronic illness, because taking a medication ev- ery day to reducetherisk of something bad happening can be confusing. Failure to see immediate improvement maylead to premature discontinuation. 4.Too many medications. The greater the number ofdifferent medicines prescribed andthe higherthe dosing frequency, the more likely someone is to not take someorany. 5. Lack of symptoms. People who don't feel any different when they start or stop their medicine mightsee no reason to takeit. 6. Worry. Concerns about becoming dependent on a medication can also lead to nonadherence. 7. Depression.People suffering from depression are less likely to take their medicationsas prescribed. 8. Mistrust. Some people are suspi- cious of their doctor’s motives for prescribing certain medications because of stories about pharmaceutical companies influencing physician prescribing patterns. Doctor’s Advice “Fifty percent of patients struggle with understanding how and when to take their prescription medications, and for those with complex prescription regimensit can be even more challenging? said Troyen Brennan, M.D., M.P.H. A Solution Fortunately, you can now get special assistance when it comes to compliance. To help people understand the best time of day to take their prescribed medica- If you have a hard time keeping track of what meds you need to take when, your pharmacist can help. tions for greater safety and efficacy, the new ScriptPath Prescription Schedule wascreated for CVS Pharmacy customers who manage multiple prescription medications.It featuresall of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacyprescription information in one place—including which medications the patient takes, when he or she should take them, and how much of each medication should be taken in each dose. Using easy-to-understand icons, the new schedule was designed to improve understanding and enhance safety by simplifying how people take medications and how caregiversgive them. WhatThe Schedule Shows Available in English and Spanish at all of CVS Pharmacy’s more than 9,700 locations, the schedule is generated by a robust scientific system that automatically reviews all of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescription information and prescriber’s instructions, and then, using clinical data, provides a schedule of the mosteffective times of day to take the medications. People who take more than five medications a day can also havea special consultation with the pharmacist to be sure they understand whatto do. Information highlighted on the new schedule includes: Personalized prescription information for each patient, including how much medication to take and whento take it Medications separated into sections for Routine, As Needed and Other Clearrefill instructions A notes section for further personalization and to facilitate face-to-face pharmacist counseling. Learn More For further facts on the ScriptPath prescription management system, in- cluding the Prescription Schedule, visit www.cvs.com/prescriptionschedule.
