Staying Healthy
Medication-taking made easier
Shocking numbers of people don't take their prescriptions at the right dose or frequency — or even at all. Learn ways to make the task less onerous.
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Six decades ago, a crooning Mary Poppins told us it takes just a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. But reality is a bit more nuanced: a sour taste isn't the only thing that can turn us off from taking medication — and there's far more than one strategy to make the task easier.
About half the time, people on their own choose to alter how much, how often, or how long they take a medication—or whether to take it at all. In fact, 20% to 30% of new prescriptions are never filled, according to the CDC.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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