Home alone: Remote medication monitoring improves adherence and patient safety (HSJ, 7 April 2025)

Summary

When they get into the system, people living with mental health issues are typically prescribed medication.

The most common prescriptions are for antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants for ADHD, and antipsychotics for conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

These are dangerous drugs if not taken properly, with potentially serious side effects. So taking them on time, in the right dosage, is vitally important.

According to the Pharmaceutical Press: “Adhering to (or compliance with) the recommendations on how to take all these medicines is essential if they are to work successfully and with minimal side effects”.

But those at home living with mental health issues are the ones most likely to fail to remember to take their meds, or to deliberately overdose.

So there need to be systems in place to monitor and report on this most vulnerable group.

What could those systems look like, and what are the most effective mechanisms for ensuring adherence and safety?