Hazards of Over Compliance of Drugs

There are substantial health benefits to the patients if the drug compliance by them is 100 percent. The good communication skills of the attending physician could be helpful to overcome the chances of over compliance by a considerable number of patients. Patients need to be briefed about the side effects of over doses as well as the extra doses of the drugs prescribed to them. The intake of over doses or extra doses of any prescribed drug is called over compliance. Inspite of best efforts by the prescribing doctors, about 20% patients may even take more drugs than the prescribed dose to get cured quickly and earlier, but this can be harmful and lead to serious toxicity or a variety of side effects.

Just remember, all drugs are poisonous chemicals and if taken in excess these may affect our health in many wrong ways. Even an indicative dose of an anti-allergic causes drowsiness and if taken in excess it may lead to impairment of judgment while driving. Take an example of common salt, excessive intake of it may induce vomiting and raise the blood pressure. Over use of antibiotics may disturb the normal flora of our intestine and suppress the blood formation in the bone marrow. Over compliance of steroids is known for suppressing the immune system of our body. An over dose of insulin may lead to serious hypoglycemia (low level of glucose in blood) in a diabetic patient. Overuse of some drugs may lead to serious health hazards including organ failure. Be wise and never take over dose of any drug.

Steps to Improve the Drug Compliance

The doctor prescribing the treatment could play a vital role to instill confidence in the patient for proper drug compliance as well as improving it. Sharing of knowledge about the disease and drugs could motivate the patient for timely intake of drugs. The patient and his /her family members should be explained the schedule of the treatment regimen. The following tips could be beneficial for improving the drug compliance:

1. Educate the patient about the dosage, timings and mode of administration of a drug.


2. Un-necessary investigations should be avoided during the course of treatment.


3. Written material or audiovisual aids about the drug information should be made available to the patient for proper compliance.


4. The physician/surgeon should be extra generous to the elderly patients.


5. The treatment related cost-benefit issues should be discussed with the patient or his/her family members.


6. The patient should be encouraged to maintain a periodic record of his/her weight, diet, blood pressure and blood sugar level if so required.


7. The doctor should write prescriptions legibly to avoid any mistaken dispensing.


8. The doctor should prescribe rationally and accurately to win the faith of his/her patient.


9. The importance and consequences of a missed dose should be explained to the patient.

Ten Causes of Poor Drug Compliance

There could be following reasons for the poor drug compliance:

1. Deliberate intention with a sense of suspicion about the side effects of the drugs.


2. Lack of understanding about the disease and associated complications if treatment is disrupted.


3. Over busy schedule of daily engagements at the place of work.


4. High and unaffordable cost of medicines.


5. Forgetfulness leading to unintentional missed doses.


6. High cost of investigations required for monitoring of the effects and side effects of a treatment regimen.


7. Longer schedule or life time medication may become boring for the patient, leading to poor drug compliance.


8. Lack of motivation in case of patients suffering from chronic diseases and psychological disorders.


9. Lack of cooperation from the family members.


10. Cumbersome drug intake schedule when multiple drugs are prescribed to the patients with multiple health ailments.

Drug Compliance

The health ailments are as old as mankind. The food articles, herbs and roots of some plants had been used as drugs for thousands of years and there existed a schedule for patients' compliance. The drug compliance refers to the willingness of a patient to follow the health related advice to take drugs/medicines as advised prescribed and to attend the follow up appointments. The drug compliance is must for the assessment of the effect of a treatment. The failure of a treatment may depend on the failure of a drug/medicine itself or due to poor compliance.

The problem is more prevalent in well educated people as compared to least educated class. Patients' commitment to drug compliance is a major health issue with outcomes restricted to the status of drug resistance, failure of a treatment, morbidity and mortality. The patients' adherence to treatment schedule or drug compliance is must for better health outcomes.