Polypharmacy, or the practice of taking multiple medications, is a common occurrence among older adults, particularly those over the age of 65. In Canada, a quarter of seniors were prescribed more than ten different classes of medication in 2021, and in Quebec, the average number of drugs used by seniors in 2016 was 8.7.
While medications can have a positive impact on health and are often necessary for the treatment of individual illnesses, the use of multiple medications can lead to various problems. The risks associated with polypharmacy include drug interactions, which can lead to undesirable effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatments. Additionally, the greater the number of drugs taken, the higher the risk of adverse effects, such as confusion, falls, and hospital admissions.
In some cases, a drug that has a positive effect on one illness may have a negative effect on another, making it difficult to determine the best course of treatment. Furthermore, the use of potentially inappropriate medications, such as benzodiazepines, can have negative impacts such as confusion, increased risk of falls and car accidents, and the risk of dependence and death.
To avoid the risks associated with polypharmacy, it is important to ask questions about the benefits and risks of each medication prescribed, keep medications up to date, and consider de-prescribing, or stopping or reducing the dose of an inappropriate drug after consulting a healthcare professional. The Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network is a world leader in this practice and has compiled a number of tools for patients and clinicians.
As a pharmacist and pharmacoepidemiologist, the researcher’s work focuses on the appropriate use of medication by older adults. They have published a study on the perceptions of older adults, family caregivers, and clinicians on the use of medication among persons over 65. The study found that the vast majority of seniors and family caregivers would be willing to stop taking one or more medications if the doctor said it was possible, despite most being satisfied with their treatments and having confidence in their doctors.
