Study finds many older Canadians don’t always fill prescriptions

A study of patients in primary healthcare showed as many as 17% of them failed to get new drug prescriptions filled within six months of the prescription date. The highest numbers were for drugs prescribed on an as-needed basis, which included such prescriptions as topical corticosteroids (35%) and antihistamines (23%). The study also showed nonadherence for prescriptions didn’t happen as much with younger patients. Patients 65 and older and with multiple prescriptions were more likely not to get prescriptions filled in a timely manner. Researchers say healthcare providers should focus more attention on older patients with multiple prescriptions.