Why is It Important to Refill My Prescription Medicines?

Felicia E. Glenn, PharmD Candidate 2008
Hampton University School of Pharmacy
Prepared during Consumer Health Information Corporation Clerkship
McLean, VA

It is a long day at the office on Monday.  When you remember to pick up your high blood pressure medication, all of the pharmacies in your area are closed for the day.  You don’t feel like traveling across town.  The next day, when you realize that you still had to pick up your medicine you then tell yourself, “Well, I feel great.  I’ll pick it up when I need it.  It costs too much anyway.”  One week later, you develop a throbbing headache that is not relieved by Tylenol®.  Within 30 minutes you are rushed to the hospital.  The doctor tells you that your blood pressure is too high.  At first, she thinks that your blood pressure medicine is not working.  You tell the doctor that you have stopped the medicine because you felt good.  The doctor says “You can’t expect that your blood pressure is going to stay down if you do not take your medicine.  You need to get your refills on time no matter what.”

Importance of Refills

Not refilling prescription medicines is a problem that many people deal with on a daily basis.  Some of the most common reasons that people find it difficult to get their refills include: certain medicines are too costly, the bothersome side effects, too many pills to swallow, no transportation to the pharmacy, unaware of how to take or use the medicine, inconvenient to use, feel no more symptoms, feel that the medicine is no longer working, along with many other reasons. The health consequences of not refilling prescription medicines can be severe, particularly for patients with heart disease or heart disease risk factors.  This problem contributes to the lack of blood pressure control in patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol reduction in patients with high cholesterol.   As a step closer to better health, refilling your medications can directly decrease your risk of developing heart disease complications or related deaths. 

CALLOUT: Difficulty with refilling prescription medicines is a serious problem that affects healthcare today. According to the New England Journal of Medicine “Approximately half of patients receiving statins* will stop their therapy within 6 months of starting therapy.”

*Statins are medicines used to decrease cholesterol.

The American Heart Association states that “more than half of all Americans with chronic diseases do not follow their doctor’s recommendations for taking medications and changing their lifestyles.” One study found that 40% of patients did not refill their prescription medicine(s) for heart related conditions. Until people start taking their heart medicines correctly, heart disease will continue to threaten the lives of many Americans and the statistics for heart disease will not change:

• Heart disease accounts for about 1 million deaths every year in the U.S.  
• The expected cost of heart disease for 2008 is going to be about $448.5 billion.
• Nearly 2,400 Americans die of heart disease each day.  This means 1 person dies every 37 seconds.
• Heart disease claims about as many lives each year as cancer, chronic lung diseases, car accidents and diabetes combined.
• The National Center for Health Statistics states that if all forms of major heart disease were eliminated than life expectancy would rise by seven years.  
• The Framingham heart study indicated that high blood pressure is a very common risk factor for heart failure. 
• Stroke has been shown to be the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the U.S. 

Consequences of Missing Refills

What people don’t realize is that not refilling their medicine on time or are stopping their medicines could cost them more in the long run.  This could cause the development of other heart disease related complications, such as heart attack, stroke or heart failure. These complications require more medications and other related care that leads to more medical costs. Studies have shown that of all the medication-related hospital admissions in the U.S, 33% to 69% are due to not taking medications.   This results in a significant burden to overall healthcare costs with estimated yearly cost in the U.S of $396 to $792 million.  

Benefits of Refilling Your Medicine

Research has shown that when patients take their medications correctly, they have less chance of developing future health complications and their medical costs can go down.

• One study showed that when patients take high blood pressure medications correctly, then their risk of developing
• A stroke falls by 35% to 40%
• A heart attack falls by 20%-25%
• Heart failure falls by greater than 50%.
• Another study showed that when patients take their cholesterol medicines correctly, then their risk of developing
• Heart disease resulting in death reduces by 42%
• A heart attack reduces by 37%
• A need for any heart procedure reduces by 37%.

Just know that refilling your medicines is an easy step that anyone can take.

QUICK TIPS TO KEEP REFILLS ON TRACK

• Keep a medicine refill chart that includes all of your current medicines.

Name:____________________________    Date:______________________________

REFILL CHART

• A calendar or personal organizer that includes your next refill dates.

• Try a dry erase board.  This is a good way to keep track of your current medicines.

• Go Digital. Store medicine reminders in your watch, PDA, cell phones, or electronic organizer.

• Refill your medicines a few days before running out. This reduces any problems that prevent you from getting your medicine on time. (i.e. pharmacy ran out of medicine, the pharmacy is closed, didn’t have time to call in refill, etc…)

• Enroll in your pharmacies automated refill system.

• Enroll in mail order pharmacy.  Order in advance of one week to get your refills on time. This is a convenient way to receive your refills if you have a very busy lifestyle.

• Other resources
• Intelecare.  Online program that supports reminders by e-mail, text messaging and voice messages.  Provides numerous reminders types such as: take your medicine, refill your medicines or keep appointments. You must register online to use this service.  This service is free of charge.  (www.intelecare.com)
• MediReminder.  Online program that provides you with automated reminders by email, telephone call or text messages.  You can decide how often you would like to receive your messages.  You can customize MediReminder to fit your own needs.  Must register online to use this service.  This service is free of charge.  (www.mymedireminder.com)

© 2008 Consumer Health Information Corporation. All rights reserved.