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By AJ Guimond, PharmD Candidate, Class of 2022
University of Arizona
April 26, 2022
Polypharmacy (poly = many) is a major problem in healthcare that happens when a patient is taking multiple medications. There is no exact classification of polypharmacy, but it is commonly defined as having five or more prescriptions a day.
Taking many medications is strongly associated with a higher risk of side effects, drug interactions, and even death in extreme cases. Fortunately, this can be preventable and fixable if you know what to look for. Understanding polypharmacy and how to prevent it may just save a loved one’s life or your own!
Polypharmacy may happen for many reasons. In some cases, patients may truly need a multitude of prescriptions. This is most often seen in very serious medical problems, such as transplantations, cancer, or someone with multiple medical conditions. However, many other patients may end up taking extra prescriptions that may be unnecessary.
Here are some of the most common ways polypharmacy may happen:
Aside from the higher costs of having more medications, polypharmacy can cause several other problems. Possible issues include:
Note: Simple ways to improve medication adherence include using a weekly or monthly pill organizer and using the free |
If you feel like you are taking too many medications, talking to your pharmacist and doctor(s) should be the first step to addressing the problem. You should discuss concerns with them you have about your medications, side effects, and effectiveness of your drug treatments.
Talking to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist has the knowledge, resources, and accessibility to make optimizing your medications simple. They can review your entire list for potential side effects, drug interactions, and unnecessary medications. If your pharmacist notices any problems in your drug list, they can provide suggestions for you to do and even contact your doctor to make immediate changes if the problem is serious. Pharmacies often get very busy, so it is recommended to schedule an appointment to review your medications in person or via phone call or video chat.
Talking to your doctor. In some cases, some of your medications may not always be the most appropriate treatment for you. To limit this risk, make an appointment with your primary doctor to discuss your prescribed drugs. Make sure you bring a list of all your medications (including over-the-counter drugs and supplements) so your doctor can be as thorough as possible. Be open and honest with them about your medications, as this will make it much easier to build an appropriate drug regimen.
Polypharmacy is one of the biggest problems in healthcare across the nation. By understanding the process and reasoning behind why it happens as a patient, you may be able to prevent or fix this problem for you or your loved ones. The major factor to prevent polypharmacy is communication between you and your healthcare providers.
Always be as thorough and comprehensive with your doctors and pharmacist as possible. They are there to help you manage your disease(s) and can work with you to make your drug regimen as simple and effective as possible.
Resources:
Association between polypharmacy and death: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed (nih.gov)
What is polypharmacy? A systematic review of definitions (nih.gov)
Polypharmacy - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Polypharmacy - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing - American Family Physician (aafp.org)
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