| A Spoonful of Sugar... |
Better health at a lower cost. Nope, I'm not talking about universal health care. I refer to the benefits of one simple step we as a nation fail to take.
It's as close as we come to a magic bullet to trim health care costs and improve our collective health. It's as simple as flossing one's teeth and just as overlooked.
The medical community knows this simple step as medical adherence.
Meaning: 'take your medicine'.
All of it.
It sounds ridiculously simple, which may be the problem. When a patient doesn't take all of his medicine, he may suffer from a renewed onset of his condition. Non-adherence makes it more difficult to treat diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma, and many other diseases. It extends suffering, burdens our health care system, and even kills.
Some research suggests that as many as 80 percent of patients may fail with their medical adherence. In the U.S, up to 10% of all hospital admissions and 23% of long-term elder care admissions may be the consequence of incomplete medical adherence. The National Council on Patient Information and Education estimates that poor adherence costs approximately $177 billion annually in direct and indirect health care costs.
In spite of those immense numbers, there are a few small things you can do to make a difference:
1. Naturally, take your medicine.
2. Don't hesitate to discuss questions or objections about your medicine with us.
3. Consider a computer program or professional service to give helpful reminders.
We have the choice and the power to combat what's coming to be known as our Other Drug Problem.
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| Mix-n-Match. Or not.
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Some drugs should be taken on an empty stomach, while others need to go down with a meal.
It's important to follow the instructions given with your prescription. If you have any doubts or questions about medications, don't hesitate to consult us.
Having said that, the National Consumers League has created a handy brochure listing common food and drug interactions. It's not meant to replace the information given with your prescription, but it could help you understand a little bit more about the 'when' and 'why' of the guidelines. To your good health.
| | http://www.nclnet.org/publications/foodanddrugint.pdf | |
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| Save Money with Generic Drugs |
| Only about half of all brand-name medications have cheaper, generic equivalents.
Why?
Generic drugs can only be manufactured once the brand-name drug's patent has expired. The patent period allows pharmaceutical companies to recuperate the initial costs of development and research.
Many of these patents will be expiring in the next few years, so remember to ask about new generic alternatives to your medication during visits.
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