Polypharmacy Essay
Poly-Pharmacy Polypharmacy refers to the effects of taking multiple medications at the same time to manage coexisting health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Polypharmacy has become a huge problem with patients being prescribed too many medications by multiple providers. If no one provider knows the entire medication picture of the patient’s there is a risk of drugs badly interacting with one another. Polypharmacy is a problem especially among older adults and has become a common issue. It is stated that among 44% of men and 57% of women older than age 65 take five or more medications per week; and about 12% of both men and women take 10 or more medications per week. These percentages include prescription and over-the-counter,
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such as vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal products. (Kathleen Woodruff MS, 2010) One factor that makes polypharmacy such a huge issue, when patients see different physicians for their medical problems, and they are under the care of several specialists their can lie a major reason that there is polypharmacy. Another reason polypharmacy is such a problem is the details on why a medication prescribed to begin with and is often missing from the medical record could hinder a physician to decide on whether a treatment can stopped later. Because of these physicians tend to continue patients on medications, even if the reasons are unknown. The risk of polypharmacy that with multiple medications, patients may find it difficult to remember to know how and when to take all that is prescribed. For example, taking and aspirin and warfarin medicines that prevent blood clots combined can increase the risk of bleeding. Several medications can increase the risk of not properly taken. This results in physicians not prescribing new beneficial medications to a patient that is already on five or more medications. This creates the circle of polypharmacy which leads to the patient not receiving the appropriate treatment. The popularity of dietary and herbal supplements such as ginkgo biloba, St.
John’s wort, Echinacea, ginseng which is used to promote the treatment of such health problems like depression and the common cold. A patient may start taking these over-the-counter vitamins and herbal supplements, and may not mention it to their physician. Some of these dietary supplements may interact with their prescription medications and they may experience and adverse effect. For example the herbal supplement “Black cohosh is a shrub-like plant found in North America. Black cohosh is often used for menopausal disorders ("hot flashes"), painful menstruation, uterine spasms, and vaginitis. There is concern that black cohosh might be toxic to the liver and may enhance liver toxicity with certain medications that also cause liver toxicity - (for example, atorvastatin (Lipitor), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or alcohol). Prescription drugs broken down by certain liver enzymes may accumulate in the body and lead to toxicity if used with black cohosh.” (L. Anderson, 2016) According to an article in American Nurse Today called Preventing polypharmacy in older adults they recommend that a nurse’s role should be to keep an exact list of all medications, including generic and brand names, dosage, dosage frequency, and the reason the drugs taken. Teach patients about their medications and how to properly use them, any potential side effects, adverse effects and interactions. Help patients organize and manage their drugs. Advise them to avoid sharing medications, store them securely, refrigerate if necessary and depose of any old medications. (Kathleen Woodruff MS,
2010)
such as vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal products. (Kathleen Woodruff MS, 2010) One factor that makes polypharmacy such a huge issue, when patients see different physicians for their medical problems, and they are under the care of several specialists their can lie a major reason that there is polypharmacy. Another reason polypharmacy is such a problem is the details on why a medication prescribed to begin with and is often missing from the medical record could hinder a physician to decide on whether a treatment can stopped later. Because of these physicians tend to continue patients on medications, even if the reasons are unknown. The risk of polypharmacy that with multiple medications, patients may find it difficult to remember to know how and when to take all that is prescribed. For example, taking and aspirin and warfarin medicines that prevent blood clots combined can increase the risk of bleeding. Several medications can increase the risk of not properly taken. This results in physicians not prescribing new beneficial medications to a patient that is already on five or more medications. This creates the circle of polypharmacy which leads to the patient not receiving the appropriate treatment. The popularity of dietary and herbal supplements such as ginkgo biloba, St.
John’s wort, Echinacea, ginseng which is used to promote the treatment of such health problems like depression and the common cold. A patient may start taking these over-the-counter vitamins and herbal supplements, and may not mention it to their physician. Some of these dietary supplements may interact with their prescription medications and they may experience and adverse effect. For example the herbal supplement “Black cohosh is a shrub-like plant found in North America. Black cohosh is often used for menopausal disorders ("hot flashes"), painful menstruation, uterine spasms, and vaginitis. There is concern that black cohosh might be toxic to the liver and may enhance liver toxicity with certain medications that also cause liver toxicity - (for example, atorvastatin (Lipitor), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or alcohol). Prescription drugs broken down by certain liver enzymes may accumulate in the body and lead to toxicity if used with black cohosh.” (L. Anderson, 2016) According to an article in American Nurse Today called Preventing polypharmacy in older adults they recommend that a nurse’s role should be to keep an exact list of all medications, including generic and brand names, dosage, dosage frequency, and the reason the drugs taken. Teach patients about their medications and how to properly use them, any potential side effects, adverse effects and interactions. Help patients organize and manage their drugs. Advise them to avoid sharing medications, store them securely, refrigerate if necessary and depose of any old medications. (Kathleen Woodruff MS,
2010)