C  Call your pharmacist or physician if you have any concerns about any of your medications.
O  Order your medication renewals/refills well in advance – don’t wait until the weekend or until
     you have just swallowed your last tablet.
M  Make your medication regimen fit into your lifestyle, not the other way around. Associate
     taking your medication with something you regularly do every day, e.g. brushing your teeth,
    sitting down to meals.
P  Plan your medication times by using a daily planner, e.g. a pill organizer.
L  Learn to never leave home without an up-to-date medication list. After all, you wouldn’t
     consider going to the bank without your bank passbook.
I  Inform your pharmacist or physician of any issues or concerns you may have regarding side
     effects, etc.
A  Ask! Ask! Ask! Before you crush or stop or change a medication.
N  Never stop a medication abruptly. Always consult with your pharmacist or physician first.
C  Clarify with your pharmacist which over-the-counter (non-prescription) or herbal medications
     are safe to mix with your prescription medications.
E  Explanation from your physician, on a regular basis, about the ongoing need for each
     medication.

C  Communicate effectively in words that the patient will understand. Avoid using medical jargon.
O  Open-ended questions are more helpful in determining the actual level of compliance
M  Make time for the patient’s questions. Patients are less inclined to open-up if they feel that
     you are rushing.
P  Provide each patient with an up-to-date medication list.
L  Listen for clues to non-compliance. For example, a patient reports an unpleasant after-taste
     or experiences nausea with a specific medication.
I  Inform the patient of the risks of non-compliance.
A  Assess if the patient is being prescribed the medication formulation that has been designed
     to enhance compliance.
N  Never assume that compliance is good. Wait until you get to know the patient. Initially,
     patients like to tell us what we want to hear.
C  Counsel the patient on all available aids to compliance. For example, calendars, programmable
     timers, or medication compliance systems
E  Evaluate the effectiveness of each counseling session by asking the patient to summarize.
     Evaluate the ongoing need for each medication on a regular basis. Evaluate ALL medications
     your patients are taking. Have them bring all prescription and over-the-counter drugs they
     use to the appointment.