- What is Polypharmacy ?
Polypharmacy is the use of four or more medications by a patient, generally and adult over the age of a 65 years.
2. Can medical prescription or non-prescribed chemical substances can contribute to polypharmacy.
3.What is the reason for the number four as the cut off point for the number of pills ?
Extensive international research has shown that whan a patient takes more than 5 pills, there is a 50 % chance of a negative drug side effect and drug-drug interaction and if a patient takes more than 8 pills, the chances can increase to 100 %.
4. Is polypharmacy bad?
Not necessarily, it can be appropriate in certain patients but more often it contributes to additional problems and symptoms.
5. What special groups of patient’s are at greatest risk from polypharmacy?
- The elderly
- Psychiatric patient’s
- patient’s taking more than 5 medications.
- recently hospitalized patient’s
- low education level
- impaired vision
6. American Geriatrics Society, BEERS LIST
LIST OF RELATED FILMS
1. A PILL HERE AND A PILL THERE