Polypharmacy, which means the use of multiple medications by an individual, mainly applies to people who are taking four or more medicines. The benefits of polypharmacy include better health safety and a reduction in hospitalization. Polypharmacy is especially important for elderly patients because they tend to develop various disease conditions as they age and require multiple medicines to improve their quality of life. However, polypharmacy also increases the risk of adverse events and errors, including drug-drug interactions and interactions between drugs and diseases. This can lead to decreased compliance and adherence.
Impact of polypharmacy
Adverse Drug Reactions
The adverse effects of drugs cannot be predicted. A single medicine can induce various types of drug interactions. Multiple medicines can lead to various types of reactions, including drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and sometimes even idiopathic reactions.
Increase cost of Therapy
Polypharmacy increases the dosage of therapy. This can lead to doctor’s visits and potential hospitalizations due to drug interactions and other complications.
Medication Non-Adherence
Multiple medications can lead to patients becoming confused about their treatment, and non-adherence can potentially worsen their health conditions.
Over medications
Prescribing multiple medicines and overuse of medications occur due to inadequate communication among healthcare providers, leading to unnecessary side effects and health risks.
Solutions to Address polypharmacy
- Medication Reviews
- Medication Reconciliation
- Patient Education
- Medication Therapy Management
- Multidisciplinary
- Clinical decision support system (CDSS)
- Tailored Treatment Plans
- Regular Health Checkups
- Pharmacogenomics
- Patient Empowerment
- Research Focus
Polypharmacy can’t be avoided; it’s essential in the healthcare system. Modern healthcare, however, emphasizes proper monitoring of medications to reduce risks. By identifying challenges and finding solutions, healthcare professionals work towards optimizing treatment regimens and improving outcomes and quality of life.
