How To Avoid Drug Interactions with the Elderly

Polypharmacy refers to the taking of multiple drugs by a single patient. Doctors and clinicians usually use this term to refer to a problem which develops as a result of taking multiple drugs. As more and more drugs are being developed to treat diseases and conditions associated with aging and to potentially even extend life, clinicians are observing an increasing number of drug interactions as well as an increase in potentially adverse health-related problems due to these interactions.

Not surprisingly, it is the elderly who are most affected by polypharmacy, as older adults account for the bulk of prescriptions sales. However, prescription medications are only part of the problem. To prevent side effects caused by these interactions, patients, pharmacists and physicians must work collaboratively to regularly review the patient’s entire medication list.

There are many factors which contribute to this polypharmacy problems. Following are five of the most common contributing factors:

Multiple doctors and pharmacists. Many seniors have more than one doctor involved in their care.

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