Taking Medications as Directed is the Right Way to Better Health
July 7, 2025When you get a prescription for a new medication, it is so much more than a pill, capsule, bottle, or vial. It is part of a pathway toward better health. It may heal or manage an illness or condition, clear up an infection, reduce pain or other issues, or enable people with serious illnesses to live longer. Sometimes, a person may just have to take a medication for a short time; or they may have to take some medications for the rest of their lives. Whatever the case, it is necessary to take all medications as instructed by your doctor and/or pharmacist.
Adherence can be challenging as we age. After all, older adults have multiple illnesses and/or conditions, some or all of which may require medication as part of treatment. As a result, over time someone may be taking several medications. At the same time, many older adults are on fixed incomes, and the costs of medications can add up, especially when someone has several prescriptions for difference illnesses and conditions. However, when someone doesn’t take their medications as directed, this actually can make them sicker; and it can lead to falls, pain, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. As Arif Nazir, MD, CMD, chief medical officer of Abode Care Partners, said, “Many older adults need their medications for day-to-day survival, which is different than younger people.”
Starting with Honesty to Overcome Barriers
It is important to be honest if you aren’t filling the prescriptions or taking your medications as directed. The physician, pharmacist, and other clinicians are there to help not judge. Whatever the reason for non-adherence, there is a way to help:
- You don’t like the way a medication makes you feel. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and appetite changes are common with many medications. These and other side effects may keep you from taking your medications. In these cases, the prescriber and pharmacist can work together to identify alternatives with fewer or less troublesome side effects; or they can look for ways to minimize or manage these effects. If you have trouble swallowing pills or don’t like the taste of a liquid or other medication, let a nurse or the physician or pharmacist know. They may be able to find a better alternative.
- Medications are too expensive. There is no shame in not being able to afford medications, and no one should have to choose between food and health care. If the cost of medications is a problem, talk honestly to your physician or pharmacist. They can work with you to determine if there are lower cost generic options or medications that can be administered in less expensive forms. There also are several discount and pharmaceutical company assistance programs. It is not safe to try and save costs by skipping doses, cutting pills in half, or self-medicating with over-the-counter products. These efforts could end up making you sicker and in need of care that is even more expensive.
- You (and/or your caregivers) have trouble administering the medication accurately. The prescriber and pharmacist can work to identify easier administration options, such as medications that can be taken once instead of three times daily or pills that don’t have to be taken with food. If you have trouble with a medication (such as how to use an inhaler), be honest with your physician or pharmacist. They can make sure you get the training you need to be confident and successful.
- You don’t think you need the medication. Sometimes when someone starts to feel better, they may think they no longer need their medication; or they may be in denial about their illness or how serious their condition is. The idea of needing medications for life or even just a period of time can be upsetting. The physician and pharmacist can help you understand why you need to take all your medication as instructed. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask. Remember, the care team is there to help and want you to be as healthy and safe as possible.
Medications and Outcomes Go Hand in Hand
Even the best medication can’t be effective if the person doesn’t take it. Yet, non-adherence issues may fall through the cracks and go unrecognized until they cause a problem such as a fall or the need for an emergency room visit or hospitalization. Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP, chief executive of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, stressed, “Compliance and adherence are the biggest challenges older adults face in their homes with their medications. With so many formulations, doses, and medications that can be successfully used to improve someone’s quality of life, it comes with a complexity.” The physician and pharmacist are your partners in care, and medications are important tools that can have a powerful impact when used correctly.