Americans Not Taking Meds

Struggling Americans may be skipping much needed prescription drug, due to the ailing economy, in a wrong-headed attempt to save money, according to a recent survey. Nearly 95% of doctors surveyed by Epocrates Inc., a health care information company, said they have some concern that patients may not be taking a prescribed drug correctly because of the economic climate.

The biggest concern among the 700 doctors surveyed was that patients were simply not filling prescriptions or skipping doses. The doctors also said they believed some patients were splitting pills. Epocrates said 55% of the physicians surveyed said they wrote more prescriptions for cheaper generic drugs in 2008 than in 2007.