UP to half of people on prescribed medication fail to follow instructions for taking their medicine.

New independent research has revealed that:

*At any one time, seven out of 10 people are using prescribed or over the counter medication.

*A fifth of people prescribed medication admit to not finishing the course.

*A fifth has suffered an adverse reaction as a result of taking medicine incorrectly in the home.

*Almost 10 percent of people have given medication prescribed for their use to somebody else, and 14 percent would consider using somebody else's prescribed medicine if it were offered to them.

The independent survey was commissioned by Tesco Pharmacy, which has 200 branches in supermarkets nationwide.

As part of Ask About Medicines Week, running from November 1-6, pharmacists at Tesco branches will be available to answer questions from the public.