Taking Medicine Is Hard, But Help Is Here

Eliza Foley was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma. Her treatment meant chemotherapy and surgery. It also meant she had a long list of medicines she had to take. Her mom and dad helped her remember when and how to take the medicines. But, for Foley, the even bigger challenge with taking these medicines was fear. She worried she would choke.

“I couldn’t swallow pills,” Foley says. “The pills that I would have to take would get crushed up. We would put them in ice cream or applesauce. It was just nasty.”

But the crushed pills were gritty, and liquids tasted bad. Taking her medicines as prescribed (medication adherence) was hard for Foley. But she knew she had to overcome her fears. 

“I knew how important my medicine was,” she says. “I knew that it was helping me.”

Thankfully, Foley got a lot of help from her mom, her dad, and her care team. They helped her overcome her fears. And they helped her learn how to swallow pills.

Understanding medication adherence

Medication adherence is an important part of a patient’s care and treatment plan. But what sounds simple—taking medicine as prescribed—can be hard.

“There are barriers that might impact our ability to take medications as prescribed,” says Niki Jurbergs, PhD, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “And there are barriers that can impact our desire to take medications as prescribed.”

For patients like Foley, these barriers can have a big impact on their treatment.

“We take such good care of our patients while they are here with us,” Jurbergs says. “And we can give them the tools and support they need to make taking medications as simple as possible.”

Introducing MEDS for Me

That is where programs like MEDS (Make Every Dose Simple) for Me  can help. MEDS for Me helps patients and families manage medication challenges through personalized teamwork. From nurses and pharmacists to psychologists and child life specialists, the team addresses managing medicines. 

This team works with patients to address barriers such as taste and anxiety. They also help when it is hard to understand or remember how to take medications. They can help patients practice swallowing pills using small candies. They offer tools like reminder apps, pillboxes, educational resources, and emotional support so that families feel confident and supported.

You are not alone

Foley was able to overcome her fears. Today, she swallows most of her medicines without any trouble. But she still has trouble sometimes, and she has not forgotten how hard it once was. She shares her experience with others, hoping that it is helpful to them.

“It’s OK to be scared about it,” Foley says, “It is an uphill battle. But you have to be willing to try. It’s a lot of work. But you’ll get there.”

And, if you need help, do not be afraid to ask.

“It is very difficult,” Jurbergs says. “It is very challenging. My hope is that we can make families feel comfortable telling us what makes taking medicines tough, so that we can help.”