Polypharmacy Flashcards
What is polypharmacy?
The use of multiple prescription medications by one patient
What are some examples of physicians a patient may see that could contribute to polypharmacy?
Primary physician, cardiologist, endocrinologist
How can integrated health systems help mitigate polypharmacy issues?
They maintain an electronic medical record that includes information from multiple physicians and health care providers
What role can drugstore chains play in managing polypharmacy?
They have computerized databases that can recognize multiple prescriptions
What is a limitation of relying on drugstore chains for polypharmacy management?
Helpful only if the patient deals exclusively with that one drugstore chain
What have some states developed to decrease risks associated with polypharmacy?
Health information exchanges to facilitate information exchange between providers and pharmacies
What negative effects can result from polypharmacy?
Overdosing and negative medication interactions
What are adverse reactions in the context of polypharmacy?
When medications taken together change the absorption, distribution, or excretion of medications
What complication arises from the timing of multiple prescriptions in polypharmacy?
Patients may forget what they have taken, leading to overdosing or underdosing
What is medication noncompliance?
Failure to take medications as prescribed
What factors can contribute to medication noncompliance in older patients?
- Financial challenges
- Inability to open containers
- Impaired cognitive ability
- Impaired vision
- Impaired hearing
What should you check if you suspect medication noncompliance?
Prescription dates and the number of pills
Why is the geriatric population more likely to experience polypharmacy?
Older people are affected most by the process of aging
How do physiologic factors affect older patients in relation to polypharmacy?
Hepatic and renal functions affecting the excretion and metabolism of medications can change
What should be considered when obtaining a patient’s medication history?
The impact of multiple prescriptions being consumed at once
