Clinical and Economic Advantages of Modern Dosage Forms: Improving Medication Adherence
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Authors: Wertheimer, A; Santella, T; Finestone, A; Levy, RA.
This paper examines a substantial source of waste and inefficiency in health care: patient nonadherence with medications. The authors explore how modern drug delivery technology can help improve adherence by simplifying the dosing regimen, and/or decreasing side effects. Other advantages of improved delivery technology include steadier drug concentrations in the bloodstream and targeted delivery of medication to its site of therapeutic action in the body. Authors note important innovations including sustained release medications, transdermal patch, melting tablets, inhaled medications, and others, and the clinical areas in which these innovations apply.