Glaucoma patients not compliant with their drug therapy: clinical and behavioural aspects.

The pattern of drug self-administration among 15 patients not compliant with their pilocarpine therapy was studied with an electronic medication monitor. Recording the date and the hour every time the medication bottle was opened, the monitor gives detailed information on the medication behaviour. The results indicate different types of medication errors; inadequate spacing of doses during the day with long intervals during the night, frequently missed doses at noon, and long interruptions in the medication, sometimes lasting for several days. Improvement in their compliance was seen in patients who were given instruction and taught to relate their medication to specified events in the day.