Walgreens released new data that shows Houston has one of the lower adherence rates in the country, potentially leading to serious negative healthcare outcomes.
In Houston’s Harris county, about 68% (67.6%) of people taking a prescription medicine are adherent, compared to the national average of about 73%.
Skipping a dose may seem harmless, but according to a new survey by WebMD, more than three quarters of people say that not taking their medication correctly can cause their condition to worsen or return.
Tips to help you remember:
Prep your pills: Find a pill box that suits your needs and get organized! Pill boxes are a great way to group your medications together by time of day and ensure you don’t forget a single dosage. They’re also easy to transport in a purse or bag when you’re on-the-go (just don’t leave them overexposed to extreme heat or sunlight).
Set up reminders: Whether it’s an alarm on your mobile phone or free tools like Walgreens Pill Reminder on our app, it’s easy to remember when to take your medications with a pre-programmed cue. Research shows that patients using pill reminders were more likely to take their medications correctly.
Simplify refills: If you have multiple prescriptions, make the refill process easier, by switching to a 90-day supply or setting up automatic refills. Consider taking advantage of complimentary time and money savers such as the Save a Trip Refills program that coordinates your prescription refill schedule to a single pick up date.
Educate yourself and ask questions: Knowledge is power, and we pharmacists can be a fantastic resource when it comes to better understanding your medications including side effects and drug-to-drug or drug-to-food interactions. If you have a question or concern, don’t be afraid to speak up and talk to your pharmacist. There’s no charge and you can even chat with us using our pharmacy chat service 24/7.
Consider prescription delivery: If you find yourself unable to make a trip to the pharmacy, you can order your refills to come directly to you. You may want to consider taking advantage of a service we offer that gives you the option of prepaying and picking up prescriptions in a dedicated line or getting your eligible medications delivered to your home.