Taking too many medications can pose health risks. Here's learn how to avoid them.

When we see an older member of the family handle a big box of medicines sorted by day of the week, we stop and wonder, is that this an excessive amount of? How do all those pills interact?

The fact is, as we age, we usually tend to develop various chronic diseases that require us to take many various medications. This is often known as polypharmacy. This concept applies to individuals who take five or more medications, but there are all sorts. Definitions with different limits (eg, 4, 10 or 15 drugs).

I'm a pharmacist and pharmacoepidemiologist with an interest in polypharmacy and its effects on populations. The research I do with my team on the Faculty of Pharmacy of Université Laval focuses on the suitable use of medicines by elderly relations. We have published it. the study On perceptions of older adults, family caregivers, and physicians about medication use in individuals over 65 years of age.

Polypharmacy in older adults

Polypharmacy may be very common in older adults. In 2021, 1 / 4 of Canadians over the age of 65 were prescribed. More than ten different types of drugs. In Quebec, people over 65 used the typical. 8.7 different drugs in 2016Latest 12 months available for data.

Is it idea to take so many medications?

According to Our studynearly all of seniors and family caregivers could be willing to stop taking a number of medications if a health care provider said it was possible, although most were satisfied with their treatment. Trust your doctors. and feel that their doctors are caring for them to one of the best of their ability.

In most cases, prescribers are helping the person they're treating. Medicines have positive effects on health and are crucial in lots of cases. But while treating individual ailments is usually enough, the entire package can sometimes cause problems.

Risks of polypharmacy: 5 points to think about

When we examine cases of polypharmacy, we discover that quality of care is usually compromised when many medications are taken.

1. Drug interactions: Polypharmacy increases the chance of drug interactions, which may result in negative effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatment.

2. A drug that has a positive effect on one disease could have a negative effect on the opposite: what must you do if someone has each diseases?

3. The higher the number of medicines taken, the greater the chance of negative effects: for adults over 65, for instance, the chance of confusion or falls increases, with significant consequences.

4. The more drugs an individual takes, the more likely they're to turn out to be addicted. Potentially inappropriate medication. For the elderly, these drugs normally carry more risks than advantages. For example, benzodiazepines, drugs for anxiety or sleep, are A frequently used class of drugs. We want to reduce their use as much as possible. To avoid adverse effects Like confusion and an increased risk of falls and automotive accidents, not to say the chance of dependency and death.

5. Finally, polypharmacy is related to various antagonistic health effects, similar to a Frailty, increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits. However, studies to this point haven't at all times been able to tell apart specific effects from polypharmacy. Because polypharmacy is more common in individuals with multiple diseases, these diseases may additionally contribute to the observed risks.

Polypharmacy can also be a mixture of medicine. There are almost as many individuals as there are people. The risks of those different combos may vary. For example, the risks related to five potentially inappropriate drug combos will definitely differ from the risks related to blood pressure medications and vitamin supplements.

Polypharmacy is subsequently complex. Our studies try to use artificial intelligence. To manage this complexity and discover combos related to antagonistic effects. Much stays to be learned about polypharmacy and its effects on health.

3 Tips to Avoid the Risks Associated with Polypharmacy

What can we do as patients, or as caregivers?

1. Ask questions: When you or someone near you is prescribed a brand new treatment, be curious. What are the advantages of medication? What are the possible negative effects? Is it consistent with my treatment goals and values? How long should this treatment last? Are there situations through which it ought to be considered for discontinuation?

2. Keep your medicines up to this point: Make sure they're all still working. Are there still any advantages to taking them? Are there any negative effects? Are there any drug interactions? Would one other treatment be higher? Should the dose be reduced?

3. Consider not prescribing: It is an increasingly common medical practice that involves stopping or reducing the dose of an inappropriate drug after consulting a healthcare skilled. It is a shared decision-making process involving the patient, their family and health care professionals. gave Canadian Medicines Adequacy and Frustration Network It is a world leader on this practice. It has developed several tools for patients and clinicians. You can find them on their website and subscribe to the newsletter.

The advantages must outweigh the risks.

Medicines are very useful for staying healthy. It isn't unusual for us to wish to take more medications as we age, but this shouldn't be seen as a foregone conclusion.

Any drugs we take should have direct or future advantages that outweigh the risks related to them. As with many other issues, in the case of polypharmacy, the adage, “everything in moderation,” often applies.