Polypharmacy may contribute to complications that could jeopardize seniors’ health. Johns Hopkins Medicine defines polypharmacy as the regular use of multiple prescriptions. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Canadian Health Measures Survey, 22 percent of adults between the ages of 40 and 79 in the United States and 19 percent of adults in that same agebracketinCanadatookat least five medications in the 30 days prior to participating in each survey.
Prescription medications are designed and prescribed to help people overcome various medical conditions, but polypharmacycancontribute to other issues that are worth noting, and some of those conditions can have an adverse effect on seniors’ daily lives and overall well-being. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, symptoms of polypharmacy include:
• Reduced alertness
• Confusion or cognitive problems
• Falls and accidents
• Weakness and dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• GI problems such as diarrhea, constipation or incontinence
• Skin rashes
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Excitability It’s equally important that seniors recognize that polypharmacy affects aging adults differently than it affects younger people, as changes in body composition that are a natural part of aging can affect how the body reacts to medications and might affect how different medications interact with one another. The effects of new drugs on seniors also may be unknown, as Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that test subjects for medications may not include older adults.
Polypharmacyisadelicate situation and each individual’s reaction to taking multiple medications at once is unique. Seniors are urged to be open and honest with all health care professionals they interact with regarding the medications they’re taking. Report any difficult or unusual side effects immediately. Seniors who feel they might be taking too many medications should address those concerns with their health care professionals, who may deprescribe a given medication and work with patients to find alternatives that can treat existing conditions without adversely affecting quality of life.