Polypharmacy in Older Adults

Abstract

Polypharmacy, associated with adverse health outcomes, is common in older adults owing to increasing chronic conditions. In addition to normal organ system changes that affect pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamics of medications, drug-drug interaction and drug-disease interactions should be reviewed. Tools to minimize polypharmacy should be considered when treating older adults.

Keywords: Basic pharmacology; Deprescribing; Older adults; Polypharmacy; Potentially inappropriate medications; Prescribing cascade.