Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy literally means "many drugs" and is a term that generally refers to the problems that can occur when a patient is taking more medications than are needed. This includes:
Unwanted duplication of drugs (for example, taking 2 medications that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol). This could result in too much acetaminophen which is harmful to the liver).
Drug interactions: the more medications a person takes the higher the risk for drug interactions and adverse effects.
Polypharmacy often results when patients go to multiple physicians or pharmacies.
Always use the same pharmacy or the same pharmacy chain. This will allow the pharmacist to check for duplication or drug interactions.
Have one main doctor that coordinates your care. This will allow the doctor to keep track of the different medications prescribed by other doctors or specialists.
Are you at risk for polypharmacy?
Do you:
Take one or more prescription medication?
Take dietary supplements, vitamins, or over-the-counter drugs?
Take homeopathic remedies or herbal medicines?
Use different pharmacies to fill your prescriptions?
Have more than one doctor giving you prescriptions?
Take medicine more than once a day?
Have trouble opening medicine bottles?
Have poor eyesight or hearing?
Live alone?
Sometimes forget to take your medications?
If you answered yes to any of these, you may be at risk for polypharmacy. See your physician or pharmacist and request a complete medication review.
Always read labels. They may tip you off to possible drug interactions.
Use only one pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
Learn your medications by name and what they are for.
Make a list of all your medications including pill strength and dose, as well as herbal products, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, supplements and over-the-counter.
Update it after every doctor visit.
Carry your medication list everywhere. Bring it to every doctor visit.
If you have more than one doctor, make sure each one knows what the other is prescribing.
Ask your primary caregiver or pharmacist to run your medication list through a drug interactions database (drugs.com) to identify possible problems, especially if you're on five or more drugs.
Avoid combination products such as cold formulas. Ask your pharmacist to help you find a product just for the symptoms you're experiencing – not for every possible symptom.
Never take a drug without asking your pharmacist about its side effects and interactions with other drugs.
Get familiar with your medications. Learn about them from your physician or pharmacist. Don't trust the Internet entirely! Much of the information available online is from questionable sources.
Most importantly, take responsibility for your health by learning about your medications.
Anytime you take more than one medication, or even mix it with certain foods, beverages, or over-the-counter medicines, you are at risk of a drug interaction. Most drug interactions are not serious, but because a few are, it is important to understand the possible outcome before you take your medications.
Here are list of reference sites:
The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. The 'drug interaction checker' may not cover all possible drug interactions. Please check with a physician if you have health questions or concerns.
drugs.com, drug interaction database (must accept terms and conditions)
medscape
WebMD
RXList
AARP
CVS
Caremark
Polypharmacy literally means "many drugs" and is a term that generally refers to the problems that can occur when a patient is taking more medications than are needed. This includes:
Unwanted duplication of drugs (for example, taking 2 medications that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol). This could result in too much acetaminophen which is harmful to the liver).
Drug interactions: the more medications a person takes the higher the risk for drug interactions and adverse effects.
Polypharmacy often results when patients go to multiple physicians or pharmacies.
Always use the same pharmacy or the same pharmacy chain. This will allow the pharmacist to check for duplication or drug interactions.
Have one main doctor that coordinates your care. This will allow the doctor to keep track of the different medications prescribed by other doctors or specialists.
Are you at risk for polypharmacy?
Do you:
Take one or more prescription medication?
Take dietary supplements, vitamins, or over-the-counter drugs?
Take homeopathic remedies or herbal medicines?
Use different pharmacies to fill your prescriptions?
Have more than one doctor giving you prescriptions?
Take medicine more than once a day?
Have trouble opening medicine bottles?
Have poor eyesight or hearing?
Live alone?
Sometimes forget to take your medications?
If you answered yes to any of these, you may be at risk for polypharmacy. See your physician or pharmacist and request a complete medication review.
Always read labels. They may tip you off to possible drug interactions.
Use only one pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
Learn your medications by name and what they are for.
Make a list of all your medications including pill strength and dose, as well as herbal products, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, supplements and over-the-counter.
Update it after every doctor visit.
Carry your medication list everywhere. Bring it to every doctor visit.
If you have more than one doctor, make sure each one knows what the other is prescribing.
Ask your primary caregiver or pharmacist to run your medication list through a drug interactions database (drugs.com) to identify possible problems, especially if you're on five or more drugs.
Avoid combination products such as cold formulas. Ask your pharmacist to help you find a product just for the symptoms you're experiencing – not for every possible symptom.
Never take a drug without asking your pharmacist about its side effects and interactions with other drugs.
Get familiar with your medications. Learn about them from your physician or pharmacist. Don't trust the Internet entirely! Much of the information available online is from questionable sources.
Most importantly, take responsibility for your health by learning about your medications.
Anytime you take more than one medication, or even mix it with certain foods, beverages, or over-the-counter medicines, you are at risk of a drug interaction. Most drug interactions are not serious, but because a few are, it is important to understand the possible outcome before you take your medications.
Here are list of reference sites:
The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. The 'drug interaction checker' may not cover all possible drug interactions. Please check with a physician if you have health questions or concerns.
drugs.com, drug interaction database (must accept terms and conditions)
medscape
WebMD
RXList
AARP
CVS
Caremark
WhatsUpJayTee Disclaimer
*The videos linked does not belong to WhatsUpJayTee, for additional information and resources ONLY.
Comments
Post a Comment