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Health Tips - Polypharmacy
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the use of multiple prescription drugs increased by twenty percent and the use of 5 or more drugs increased by 70 percent within the last decade. By 2007 and 2008 about one-half of Americans used at least one or more prescription medications; and one out of ten used five or more prescription medications. One out of every five children used at least one or more prescription medication compared with nine out of every ten adults age 60 and over.
The most common type of prescription medications used for children included: asthma medication, central nervous system stimulants for adolescents, antidepressants for middle age adults, and cholesterol lowering and high blood pressure medications for older americans. Women were more likely to use prescription medications than men.
Here are some tips for patients to reduce the risks of adverse reactions when taking multiple medications: Get to know your medications; what are the names, why are you taking them, how long should you be taking your medications, what are the most common and serious side effects, what should you do if problems arise, what should you do if you miss a dose. These are all discussions you should be having with your health care providers. If you've been in a hospital a lot of changes could have been made to your medications during your hospital stay. It is important for you to find out exactly what you should be taking when you are discharged.
Communicate with your doctor and pharmacist, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the drugs you are taking including: over the counter, dietary supplements, herbal medications. Do not forget to inform your healthcare team about any allergies or reactions you've had to medications in the past.
Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without discussing it with your healthcare team. Take your medications as directed, do not share your medications, and use devices like pillboxes to help take your drugs as directed. It is generally better to stick to one pharmacy, this makes it easier for your doctor and pharmacist to watch for potential adverse reactions and drug interactions between medications.
Before starting an herbal remedy, over the counter medication or prescription medication check with your physician or pharmacist to make sure that it is safe to take.
