patients 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
Side Effects:
patients may attribute side effects of one medication to a number of medications and cease taking them all
Cost:
patients may not fill medications initially or ration what they do fill to extend their supply
Misunderstanding:
patients may not understand the need for the medication, the nature of the side effects or the time it will take to see positive results; failure to see immediate improvement may lead to premature discontinuation
Too many medications:
the greater the number of different medications prescribed and the higher the dosing frequency, the more likely a patient is to be non-adherent
Lack of symptoms:
patients who do not feel any differently when they start or stop their medication might see no reason to take it
Worry:
concerns about becoming dependent on medication can also lead to non-adherence
Depression:
patients who are depressed are less likely to take their medications as prescribed
Mistrust:
patients may be suspicious of their doctor’s motives for prescribing certain medications because of media coverage and pharmaceutical companies’ influence on prescribing patterns
Belief Systems:
a belief that prescription medications are toxic and are not natural may lead to trials of complementary medications.
