Common Reasons for Not Taking Medications
There are many reasons why people might stop taking their prescribed medications, despite the potential for recurrent heart events. Possible reasons include57:
- Busy schedules
- Unexpected interruptions throughout the day may make it difficult to take your medication at the appropriate time.
- Side effects
- When uncomfortable side effects occur from a medication, some people may decide to discontinue use. You should always talk to your doctor about any side effects you are experiencing.
- Drug costs
- If insurance does not cover the cost of a drug, or if the co-payment is too expensive, some people are not able to afford their medication.
- Health beliefs
- Some people do not feel that they need their prescribed medication to make them feel better.
- Poor doctor-patient communication
- Some people do not understand their healthcare provider's directions for taking medication or the prescription's purpose.
- Absence of symptoms
- According to a recent survey by the Wall Street Journal Online "Health Industry Edition," 36 percent of adults who had drugs prescribed to them did not take their medication because they had no symptoms or their symptoms resolved.
It is important to remember, complying with your medications if you are a heart patient – especially if you have suffered from a heart attack or have a stent – is important and can significantly increase survival rates and lead to improved health outcomes.58,59,60
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