What is polypharmacy?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the definition of polypharmacy, which refers to the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient, often including medications that may not be clinically warranted. It typically addresses concerns related to potential risks and implications of using several drugs simultaneously.
Answer
Polypharmacy is the regular use of five or more medications at the same time.
Polypharmacy is defined as the regular use of five or more medications simultaneously, commonly observed in older adults and at-risk populations.
Answer for screen readers
Polypharmacy is defined as the regular use of five or more medications simultaneously, commonly observed in older adults and at-risk populations.
More Information
Polypharmacy can pose various health risks, especially in older adults, such as increased chances of drug interactions and side effects. It highlights the importance of managing medication carefully to avoid adverse effects.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming any use of multiple medications qualifies as polypharmacy, but it specifically involves the use of five or more medications.
Sources
- Polypharmacy - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing - AAFP - aafp.org
- Polypharmacy - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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