The good news: generic drugs usually cost less than brand name equivalents. The bad news: depending on the maker, one generic medication can confusingly come in many shapes and colors. And now new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that heart patients are less likely to keep taking their meds if the generic they’re prescribed lacks a consistent look. The observation follows the tracking of about 11,500 patients all of whom had a heart attack between 2006 and 2011. Over the course of a year about 30% saw 1 or more of their generic blood pressure, cholesterol or blood thinning medications change shape or color and about 1/3 stopped taking a prescription drug for 1 month or more. Shape and color changes seemed to be largely responsible with the odds rising by 34% when a medication changed color and by 66% when a medication changed shape.

The finding suggests that doctors may need to alert patients about the cosmetic inconsistencies of generic drugs and urge them to stick to their regimen regardless.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with news you can use for healthier living.

HPV Vaccine

HPV vaccine effective 8 years after initial vaccination, study finds

Middle Age, Diabetes and Brain Volume

People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age may be at increased risk of brain cell loss and memory problems later in life.

Weight Discrimination

Overweight and obese women face daily discrimination, a new study suggests.