“Nonadherence” is what doctors call it when patients don’t take their prescription medications as prescribed — or at all. This is such a widespread problem that some experts consider it an “epidemic” in itself, in that the failure to take medication as prescribed can cause serious health problems, or make illnesses like diabetes worse. Some experts estimate that as many as 125, 000 lives have been lost to nonadherence, and urge doctors to learn more about why patients fail to take drugs as prescribed, and what can be done to help patients stay on track. Read more