Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy (pronunciation: /ˌpɒliˈfɑːrməsi/) is a term used in the field of medicine to describe the use of multiple medications by a patient, particularly when too many forms of medication are used by a patient, when more drugs are prescribed than is clinically warranted, or even when the combination of drugs may interact to cause adverse effects.
Etymology
The term "polypharmacy" is derived from the Greek words "poly" meaning "many" and "pharmacy" meaning "drug".
Definition
Polypharmacy is most common in the elderly, affecting about 40% of older adults living in their own homes. About 21% of adults with intellectual disability are also exposed to polypharmacy. Polypharmacy is not always bad, but it is often associated with an increased risk of adverse effects, including drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and adverse drug withdrawal events.
Related Terms
- Monotherapy: The use of a single drug to manage a particular disorder. It is the opposite of polypharmacy.
- Drug Interaction: A situation in which a substance affects the activity of a drug when both are administered together.
- Adverse Drug Reaction: An injury caused by taking a medication.
- Geriatrics: A specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polypharmacy
- Wikipedia's article - Polypharmacy
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