Polypharmacy - Are You at Risk?

Polypharmacy is an issue of growing concern around the world. It occurs when a person is taking five or more medications concurrently. This is not just prescription medicines, it includes over the counter, and complementary medicines as well. Although they don't require the approval of a medical practitioner, complementary medicines have proven to affect human health and can interact with prescribed drugs.

Why the concern about taking more than 5 different medications at once?

Putting aside the financial cost, there is overwhelming evidence that after 5, any additional medicines only improve patient outcomes by a maximum of 25%. But worse than that, you dramatically increase the risk of negative drug interactions. In many cases patients are being prescribed more drugs simply to treat the side effects of those they are already taking.

Cases of polypharmacy are increasingly common with the elderly and those suffering from complex health issues or chronic disease. Because it involves across the counter medications a well, it's not simply an issue of overprescribing by doctors and medical specialists.

Meeting this challenge requires a more collaborative approach and a level of patient oversight that can only be provided by a pharmacist. By combining their expert knowledge of medications with active monitoring they are in a unique position to facilitate greater collaboration among healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and specialists) to mitigate the risk of polypharmacy and maximise patient outcomes.

Other Initiatives

Here is a list of other initiatives to help prevent polypharmacy:

• Interprofessional care: 

Collaboration between different healthcare professionals, such as doctors, pharmacists, and social workers, can help coordinate care. 

• Shared decision-making: 

Patients and their caregivers should be involved in decisions about their medications. 

• Medication reviews: 

Regular reviews by pharmacists and doctors to identify medications that are no longer needed or are no longer appropriate. 

• Non-pharmacological treatments: 

Considering non-medication options or lifestyle changes as alternatives or adjuncts to medication. 

• Simplifying regimens: 

Using combination pills or long-acting medications to reduce the number of pills a person needs to take. 

Factors to Consider

Here are other factors associated with polypharmacy:

• Adverse drug events: Increased likelihood of experiencing harmful side effects from medications. 

• Drug interactions: Medications can interact with each other, potentially increasing or decreasing their effects. 

• Prescribing cascade: New medications may be prescribed to treat side effects caused by other medications, leading to even more drugs. 

• Reduced adherence: Complex medication regimens can be difficult to follow. 

• Increased costs: Taking many medications can be expensive. 

• Falls: Polypharmacy is associated with an increased risk of falls. 

• Other health issues: Confusion, cognitive problems, dizziness, loss of appetite, and digestive issues can arise.

Tara’s Bourke Street Pharmacy is mindful of the risks associated with polypharmacy and where necessary they will engage with your doctors or specialists to maximise your health outcomes.

Click to Subscribe to our Blog