Medication review and polypharmacy

Polypharmacy

Definition

There is no single definition of polypharmacy, although it is often defined as the use of five or more medicines on a daily basis[1]. This may be any combination of prescription drugs, OTC medicines and dietary or herbal supplements. Others use the term to refer to the experience of adverse effects from taking multiple medicines simultaneously, regardless of the number

The most commonly reported definition of polypharmacy was the numerical definition of five or more medications daily, with definitions ranging from two or more to 11 or more medicines.

Why is it important?

Polypharmacy is much more complex than just being on a large number of repeat medications 

Polypharmacy itself can be perceived as a “condition” possibly threatening healthy old age.

The burden of medicines > burden of disease