Why patients don’t want to take medicines?
Side-effects:
The patient experiences Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs).
Lack of patient agreement:
The patient may lack knowledge or understanding about the pros and cons in using a medicine.
Cost of medicine:
Patients may find the cost of medicines prohibitive. This has been the driver behind the Scottish Government’s aim to provide free NHS prescriptions.
Patient fears and beliefs:
Patients may have heard or read about Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) linked to a medicine and are therefore unwilling to use the medicine, even though they have not experienced a reaction.
Patients may have doubts about the quality of the medicines e.g. they may perceive that non-branded (generic) medicines are poorer quality because they are cheaper than branded medicines. Moreover, in recent years there have been cases of counterfeit medicines. These incidents alarm the general public.
Patients who are vegan are likely to refuse medicines which contain animal products e.g. gelatine capsules.
Medicine does not work:
The medicine does not work or does not appear to work.
Correct usage of the medicine:
Patients may believe the medicines are not required long term and take them as a short ‘course’ in the same way they would use an antibiotic.
Page last reviewed: 21 Jul 2023
