Too Many Pills: The Hidden Risk of Polypharmacy

Twelve prescriptions, three doctors, two pharmacies — and nobody watching the whole picture.

Polypharmacy — taking many medications at once — is one of the biggest hidden risks in senior health. Each doctor prescribes correctly for their own specialty, but the combinations cause dizziness, confusion, falls, and hospital stays. Sometimes a drug is prescribed just to treat the side effects of another drug — the prescribing cascade. And aging bodies process medication differently, so yesterday’s right dose can become today’s overdose. The fixes are refreshingly simple. Use one pharmacy for everything, so interactions get flagged automatically. Do a brown-bag review — literally bag up every bottle, supplements included, and have the doctor or pharmacist review the whole collection at least once a year. And ask two questions about every single drug: what is this for — and is it still needed?

Medication problems are among the most common reasons seniors land in the emergency room — and among the most preventable. A one-hour review may be the cheapest health intervention your family ever makes.

This has been Care Without Crisis Explains, presented by Vanguard Care Solutions.

For more free videos and family resources — or when you’re ready to talk about care at home — visit vanguardcaresolutions.com or call 301-327-1444.