Medication Adherence

• Medication adherence means taking medications the way they are prescribed and following the plan developed by you and your health care team.
• Adherence is important for medications to work correctly.
• Not being adherent with your medications could result in a worsening of your medical condition, a decrease in your quality of life, and a need to go to the hospital or clinic more often.^1,2
• There are many tools and resources available to help with medication adherence.
• Communication is key. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist about any questions or concerns about your medications.

Being adherent means following directions or sticking to a plan. It includes refilling your prescriptions on time and following the directions on your prescription bottle. If you take your medications the way that your doctor or pharmacist explained, then you are being adherent. Medication adherence is important to ensure that medications work correctly, prevent complications, and help achieve your goals with treatment. ^1,2

It can be hard to remember to take your medications if you have several different prescriptions or take them at several times during the day. The best way to remember something is to make it a part of your daily routine and do it over and over. There are several tips and tricks that may help you take your medications properly.

Taking medication at the same time each day is important for them to work correctly. If you take several medications at different times during the day, setting an alarm on your watch or cell phone is a great way to remind yourself when each dose is due.

Pair your medications with something you do every day. For example, if you drink coffee every morning, put your medication bottle next to the coffee pot. This will remind you to take your medication while the coffee is brewing.

If carrying around several different prescription bottles is a hassle, consider getting a weekly pill box or medication planner to keep everything together.

Forgetting to refill prescriptions may cause you to go several days without medication. If you often forget refills, ask your pharmacy if they have an automatic refill program.

You could consider using a mail order service so that your prescriptions are sent right to your front door.

It is a good idea for anyone taking prescription medications to have a medication list. Make a list with the name and strength of your medication, the reason why you take it, how much you take, and when you take it. Leave a blank space to write down any questions or concerns to ask next time you see your doctor. Keep this list up to date and take it with you to each doctor visit.

Questions to ask before starting a new medication:

1. Why do I need this medication?
2. How should I take this medication?
3. What are some possible side effects of this medication?
4. What do I do if I miss a dose of this medication?
5. What happens if I don’t feel better?

Remember, communication is key. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist about issues that are preventing you from being able to take your medications the way they are prescribed.

Don’t forget that you are the most important member of your health care team. It is your health after all! Work with your doctor or pharmacist to develop a medication plan that fits best into your daily life.

Last Reviewed: September 2024

Provided by

Caroline Barnard, PharmD, February 2019

To view the references for this resource, please visit aapp.org/390123.

Important Disclosure: This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the topic. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein.

©2024 The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). AAPP makes this document available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Last Updated: January 2016.