Follow the prescribed treatment; do not stop merely because you feel better
People who adhered well to medication had mortality odds about half those of poor adherers in the cited analysis. Interpret that cautiously: even people adhering to placebo had lower mortality, suggesting that adherent people also look after their health in other ways. Nevertheless, stopping necessary treatment can be harmful, particularly blood-pressure medicines, anticoagulants and anti-rejection drugs.
What it takes
No extra cost, with potential savings on later complications. Daily medication takes minutes; taking it consistently is the hard part.
What you may gain
A meta-analysis of 21 studies and 46,847 people found 44% lower mortality odds with good versus poor adherence: OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.50–0.63. For treatments known to be effective, the reduction was about 45%: OR 0.55 (0.49–0.62).
Context & considerations
Disputed. This is among the book's figures most in need of cautious interpretation. Good placebo adherence also correlated with lower mortality, OR 0.56 (0.43–0.74), indicating a healthy-adherer effect: people who consistently take treatment may already behave more healthfully. This does not remove the established harms of stopping necessary medicines, especially antihypertensives, anticoagulants and anti-rejection treatment.
Research & references
Simpson SH, Eurich DT, Majumdar SR, et al. (2006). A meta-analysis of the association between adherence to drug therapy and mortality. BMJ, 333(7557), 15. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38875.675486.55