Forms of medication non-adherence

The following is a brief overview of the different forms of medication non-adherence.


Primary non-adherence:

• failure to fill prescriptions.

Since primary adherence is based on refill rates, it represents the  maximum possible level of adherence. Thus, it may overestimate the patient's drug taking behaviour.

Secondary non-adherence:

• overuse,
• underuse,
• alteration of schedules or doses,
• premature discontinuation of drug therapy.

Non-adherence not only mean underuse of the prescribed medication, symptom-relieving drugs such as short term bronchodilators are often overused.