Why is therapy adherence so important?

15 Apr 2021

The successful treatment of a health issue depends on two factors. First is the doctor and their understanding of the problem to determine a coherent treatment. Second is the patient and their adherence to the prescribed therapy. What risks lay in ignoring the doctor’s advice, and how does medication affect the body?

How does a therapy plan function?

Every medication plan is strictly personal according to the patient and their characteristics - age, weight, conditions, allergies, lifestyle, etc. Based on this information, the medical professional prescribes a treatment aiming to resolve the specific health issue. The instructions for every therapy should be followed because they correspond with the medication’s features. Once the drug is administered to the body, it goes through multiple stages. Usually, the medicament dissolves in the stomach and is carried around the body through the bloodstream. It influences the health issue while moving through the body. Eventually, the medication is broken down by the enzymes in the liver and kidneys until finally, it leaves the body. This is the process behind a medication treatment, and it happens every time a new dose is administered.

What happens if a dose is missed?

When it comes to therapy, dosage and schedule are of key importance. Usually, just one dose of a drug won’t affect an infection or a chronic condition. When there is a gap in the admission of medications, the whole treatment cycle is broken, affecting the whole therapy negatively. A medication (especially antibiotics and antivirus medicaments) needs to provide constant drug bio-availability because viruses and bacteria don’t rest and simply don’t disappear while we sleep.

What are the most common reasons for inconsistent treatment?

• The patient simply forgot to take a dose.
• The patient isn’t sure if they took a dose already. This is common for people treating multiple health conditions.
• The patient sees improvement and decides there’s no point continuing with the therapy, even though it’s far from complete.
• The patient doesn’t trust the clinician and believes their own judgment is better than the professionals’.
• The patient is worried about the side effects the medication might have.

Why is it essential to complete the whole medication plan?

Many people say, “I feel better, and there is no point continuing the therapy,” and stop taking medications before the end of prescribed treatment. There is a reason for the medical professional to advise instructions, and not following them can be a risk. For example, with virus infections, if the treatment is not completed, the bacteria might not disappear completely. Therefore, they might continue to multiply. This counteracts the whole purpose and can also result in the bacteria building resistance against the drug. Irregular treatment is common among people with chronic conditions. According to the World Health Organization, only 50% of those patients finish the prescribed therapy. This can lead to complications of the condition and a much more difficult treatment in the future.

What is the solution?

A great way to avoid all this is by keeping a diary of all treatments. Medrec:M offers various options to create a detailed medication plan. Both for you and your family members, it includes medication tracking and reminders for medicine intake. Find out more: https://medrec-m.com