Polypharmacy occurs when a patient takes too many medications for their own good. It is most common among seniors and individuals with multiple medical issues. Because older people metabolize drugs differently, the combined effects of numerous medications can be especially harmful.

Being on too many medications can lead to potentially dangerous drug interactions and exposure to many side effects at once. Keep in mind that this applies not to just prescriptions, but also to over-the-counter (OTC) medications and dietary supplements, which patients often use as needed without informing their doctors.

Treating only one chronic medical condition may require several prescriptions, but for seniors who often have several ailments, their medication regimens can be very complex. It can get to the point where the patient doesn’t know all the drugs…