Ask a Patient Opinion Poll

If you didn't fill a prescription you received from your doctor, why not?

(Total Votes: 1032)

Felt better, didn't need it (13.2%)
 

Used different treatment (2.0%)
 

Too expensive (16.9%)
 

Received free samples and just used those (4.3%)
 

Worried about side effects (41.0%)
 

Decided it was not the right treatment for my symptoms (14.1%)
 

Other (8.5%)
 


Voter Comments (the following are opinions of readers and not AskaPatient.com)

• I don't fill antibiotics for problems that are not threatening or probably not caused by bacteria.

• Afraid of side effects

• Sick of pills with debilitating side effects.

• I did a reaserch on it and discovered too many dangerous side effects not explained by doctor

• I felt the doctor was medicating symptoms not treating the disease/condition.

• Side Effects of Drug

• insurance won't cover

• I had previous pain medication but did not even use that for pain.

• just wanted the narcotics not the sterois

• Fear and stigma made me delay filling scrip for antidepressants.

• Disagreed with the prescription in the first place.

• antibiotic cost $125. when a 'free' one at Walmart would do the same job

• very sceptical

• Refused statin because I want high cholesterol for a healthier heart.

• afraid to fill it

• disease better than the cure

• Without health insurance, the medicine is $165.00 per month, and my family needs to have groceries.

• I was just talking about this today with a friend and taking something new is scary

• took for 3 months and now, 3 months later, am still feeling like I'm going to exploda

• Finding other ways that are natural without side effects.

• Opted to give natural, alternative treatment a try instead-so glad I did!

• just seem drug intolerant have side effects NO ONE has

• IT IS WORSE THAN THE CANCER

• Either b/c I'd rather try a more natural remedy or b/c it's too expensive.

• I usually don't fill things like motrin and hydrocortisone cream

• too expensive

• side effects

• Prescribed two meds totalling $350 with a coupon!!

• Cost,medicare D is BALONEY!

• I have always taken any medicine my doctor prescribed.

• After I took free samples, I realized the drug wasn't helping

• terrible side effects

• too expensive

• wait and see

• Not enough time elapsed since drug hit the market

• felt it was unnecessary due to the infrequency of my symptoms

• because I thought it was bunk

• Most doctors are just drug dealers for big pharma

• I've found doctors will often prescribe what the drug companies pressure them to prescribe.

• wait for specialist's opinion

• scared of dide effects

• I refuse to take statins

• Too painful to keep taking

• wasn't given enough information and didn't like what I read about it

• I think a natural, dietary approach is better.

• did not want to merely suppress symptoms....wanted a cure!

• worried some drugs are "mis- / over prescribed" by doctors who are comped by "BIG PAPA BEAR PHARMA".

• After months, no benefits and horrific side effects.

• too many different prescriptions, side effects & cost

• was not what i wanted

• take only as prescribed

• The medicine was prescribed on the recommendation of the drug company salesman, not on my need.

• insurance company requires mail order, Dr. gives prescriptions for 30 days. Doctor vs. Insurance....

• Too expensive.

• Co-pays have increased.

• still had symptoms, $$$

• ben trying to quite smoking and a pharma company stopped producing tabex

• Why take meds whne you can heal naturally?

• For statins: terrified about possible side effects--why trade one problem for another?

• I hate taking medication

• It was for pain medication; I decided to wait a few days and make sure I needed it.

• Similar drugs in same family had caused caused severe bone pain, Dr. said take anyway!Incredible!

• I didn't perscribing the psychiatrist

• mail order drug company is difficult to deal with

• Too many scary side effects reported by patients

• Sometimes Insurance won't pay

• woried what it will do later

• good product too expensive

• HATE TAKING TABLETS OF ANY KIND

• too many side effects

• I refuse to take any more pills ever, thats why

• After research about a medication my gut feeling was not a postive feeling about using this medicati

• too much money

• Dds over prescribe, giving you meds you DON"T need.

• Don't trust the drug companies AT ALL

• Not a good choice and was not told about side effects--doctor's response was to just stop taking it.

• WORRIED

• i didn't want to take anti depressants for my neck pain

• researched medication that was on script before having it filled

• Had it prescribed before, but doctor refused to believe it didn't work the first time.

• Don't trust prescription drugs

• i am not a guinea pig

• side effects are note "side" anything - they are EFFECTS

• could not believe a drug needed to save my husbands life was so expensive. had to beg for a sample.

• I have 2 serious conditions on the precaution list & it says the med increases them

• decided side effects didn't outweigh benefits

• DANGEROUS

• already tried - decided not to throw away the co-pay

• Called in Darvocet for my sudden joint pain after starting Fosamax

• they can make it worse

• believed that your psychiatrist was getting $ out of it when it'n not for your condition

• Dr need to give out samples to save us money on all the meds we cannot take after all!

• I don't like taking medication unless it is absolutely nessessary.

• I felt I would get better anyway

• I researched it and discussed it with doctor before not filling prescription.


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