Polypharmacy: A Case Study

According to Pham and Dickman (2007), polypharmacy is described as an overuse of multiple medications (pg. 1840). There is no established number of medicines necessary on a patients profile in order to be deemed polypharmacy (Pham and Dickman, 2007), however it is known that patients taking multiple medications are at greater risk for adverse drug reactions. The elderly and children make up the high risk groups that providers should reevaluate the mediation profiles to ensure any patients with renal insufficiencies do not have drug therapies that continue beyond the point of benefit (Woo and Wynne, 2012). The concept involves the idea that the more medicines a patient takes the greater risk of drug interaction and adverse drug events (Pham and Dickman, 2007).
2. How can polypharmacy avoided?

Continuing to review a patient’s medication profile while residing in a healthcare facility every six to twelve months and with any medication alteration (Pham and Dickman, 2007). This frequency of review would allow for re-evaluation of current medications and discontinuation if applicable (Pham and Dickman, 2007). In addition, adverse drug reactions are known to occur more often in women, children, the elderly and in patients with renal insufficiency (Woo and Wynne, 2012). Close monitoring of these high risk populations would also provide opportunity to minimize adverse drug reactions in combination with close monitoring of the known high risk medications such as antiepileptic drugs, and antidepressants (Woo and Wynne,