Modern tools like an automatic pill dispenser with alarms and timer should be the base of medication management .

The numbers are struy shocking.  For example, 2015 studies show that 25%-35% of  prescriptions  never even get filled.  Furthermore, 50% of prescriptions for chronic disease, such as high blood pressure,  are not taken as directed.

This was reported  from a review in Annals of Internal Medicine.

• “When people don’t take the medications prescribed for them, emergency department visits and hospitalizations increase and more people die,” said Bruce Bender, co-director of the Center for Health Promotion at National Jewish Health in Denver. Non-adherence is a gigantic issue.  Again,  no ‘1″ fix all  solution.  The reason,  so many different reasons why mistakes happen.

The study gives insight into the problem

Most important, it explains why medications don’t work up to expectation in so many patients.  In fact, many simply don’t get better.  There may be a surprise relapses or even death.  Needless to say, when they are given prescriptions that keep them alive.

You may not believe this.  In fact, a full 35%  of kidney transplant patients are not taking the anti-rejection pills.  To illustrate, over 40% of heart attack patients don’t take high  blood pressure medications.  Finally, 50% of children with asthma either don’t use their inhalers consistently.

“When people don’t take the medications prescribed for them, emergency department visits and hospitalizations increase and more people die,” said Bruce Bender, co-director of the Center for Health Promotion at National Jewish Health in Denver. “Non adherence is a huge problem.  Furthermore, there’s no one solution because there are many different reasons why it happens.”

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Still Relying on an “Old Fashion” Pill Box or Ineffective Reminders?