March Issue: Polypharmacy and Deprescribing

Reviewing Health Risks in Prescription and Remedies - Polypharmacy and Deprescribing

Polypharmacy, or the concurrent use of multiple medications, has become a growing concern among older adults due to its association with adverse drug reactions, increased hospitalization rates, and declining cognitive and physical function. As aging populations often have multiple chronic conditions requiring pharmacological management, the risk of inappropriate medication use rises.

Deprescribing, which is defined as the systematic approach to reducing or discontinuing unnecessary medications, has emerged as a crucial strategy to improve health outcomes and enhance the quality of life in elderly patients. In this paper, our research team explores the challenges of polypharmacy, the benefits and risks of deprescribing, and evidence-based strategies for optimizing medication regimens in older adults.