Common Ailments

With an increasingly aging population and available treatment options, there is a growing concern about polypharmacy becoming all too common in the elderly. Polypharmacy is defined as the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions. While medications are meant to help with ailments or disease, excessive or unnecessary treatments increase the risk of adverse drug effects, including fragility and cognitive impairment, harmful drug interactions, and drug-disease interactions. This article will discuss recognizing polypharmacy, its symptoms, and dangerous consequences, plus strategies for reducing or eliminating the risks for your loved one.