An Accumulating, Often Unexamined Burden
Many older adults, particularly those managing multiple chronic conditions, end up taking numerous medications simultaneously, often prescribed by different specialists who may not have full visibility into everything else the patient is taking, a situation called polypharmacy that carries genuine risks of drug interactions, side effects that mimic other medical problems, and medications that continue indefinitely long after their original indication has resolved or become less relevant.
The Real Risks of Excessive Medication
Polypharmacy increases risk of adverse drug interactions that can be difficult to identify since symptoms may be attributed to aging or new medical problems rather than medication effects, increases fall risk through medications affecting balance or alertness, and can create prescribing cascades where side effects from one medication are treated with an additional medication rather than recognizing and adjusting the original culprit.
The Value of Regular Medication Review
Structured medication review, sometimes involving deliberate deprescribing of medications that may no longer provide net benefit relative to their risk in an individual patient, has evidence for improving outcomes in appropriately selected older adults. Regular comprehensive medication review, ideally involving a pharmacist alongside prescribing physicians, helps identify opportunities to simplify regimens and reduce unnecessary risk. Facilities can source pharmacy supplies and diagnostic equipment from our catalog.
