Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 30, 1999
"HIV medications are complicated. Taking them can be a full-time job. The drugs can influence when a person eats and sleeps, and they can cause side effects that disrupt day to day activity," says Amanda Tatro, Pharm.D., of Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Clinic 42.
Tatro meets with people one-on-one as part of the Minnesota Medicine Adherence Project (MnMAP) to help them adhere to their medication schedules. Tools, such as pillboxes, water bottles, watches with alarms and pagers that remind people when to take medications are also available through MnMAP.
To help Bruce keep track, he has a large pillbox that he fills once a week. Each day's pills are in pop-out compartments that he can take with him to work or wherever he goes. Until recently, he stayed up late to take one medication on an empty stomach. With Tatro's advice, he adopted a more practical schedule and takes that particular medication at a more convenient time.
In spite of new anti-retroviral drugs, all HIV medications require strict adherence to their schedules if they are to be effective. "It's not as simple as just taking a pill. People need to appreciate the complexity of managing HIV disease through medicine," says Tatro. "Missing only two out of ten dosages decreases the drugs' effectiveness by 50 percent."
Although Tatro's office is at Abbott Northwestern, she counsels patients from a 13-county area. She hopes to include 300 people in the MnMAP study. A patient advocate is also available to provide ongoing monitoring and support for people taking these complex medications. MnMAP is funded by a two-year $100,000 grant from the Ryan White Care Act Title One funds.
Medication adherence can be measured. Pill counts and patient reports on a regular basis provide information about medication adherence. Not only will individual patients benefit from better medication adherence, but information is being gathered related to why people miss doses and how best to design medication schedules to fit the needs of patients.
For more information about the Minnesota Medication Adherence Program, please call Clinic 42 at 612-863-4008.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics provides care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
SOURCE Abbott Northwestern Hospital
CONTACT: Gloria O'Connell of Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 612-864-4801/
Web Site: http://www.allina.com /
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