Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Dr. Jaisingh Rajput

As our senior population grows, so does a hidden health risk: polypharmacy — the use of five or more medications at once. While prescriptions are often necessary, taking too many can lead to serious side effects, including falls, confusion, and hospitalizations.

A recent study in JAMA found that over 40% of adults aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications daily . This number has nearly doubled in the past two decades. In Alabama, where chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease are common, seniors are especially vulnerable.

Dangers of Too Many Medications

Polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse drug reactions (nausea, dizziness, bleeding), drug interactions, cognitive decline, falls and fractures and hospitalizations.

“Many older adults are on medications they no longer need,” says Dr. Jane Smith, a geriatrician at Greenville Health Center. “Regularly reviewing prescriptions can prevent harm.”

Current Guidelines for Safer Prescribing

Healthcare providers are encouraged to conduct comprehensive medication reviews, use tools like the Beers Criteria to identify potentially inappropriate medications, collaborate with pharmacists for medication management and educate patients about their medications.

Deprescribing — safely reducing or stopping unnecessary medications — is a key strategy. It’s a supervised process that considers the patient’s current health status and goals .

What Seniors, Caregivers Can Do

• Maintain an up-to-date list of all medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements;
• Bring this list to every medical appointment; 
• Ask healthcare providers to review the necessity of each medication; and
• Be open to adjusting or stopping medications under medical supervision.

Local Resources

By staying informed and proactive, seniors can reduce the risks associated with polypharmacy and maintain a higher quality of life.

For more information, visit www.greenvillehealth.org. 

Dr. Jaisingh Rajput and Dr. Prakakta Rajput are physicians specializing in hospital medicine and preventive health. They are dedicated to educating the public on stroke prevention and cardiovascular wellness.