Get the facts What is polypharmacy?

Do I still need to take all of my medicines? my all of take Do I still need to medicines still helping me all my Are well? stay to medicines be causing […]? my of any Could medicines be affecting my of any Could the others? to ensure your medicines are still right for you: for still right medicines are your ensure to • • • • you can share this list with your doctor and the doctor with your this list can share you list is unlikely Your you. caring for team may You professionals. all health to be available to family with your this information share to also want or carer. information more Get Medicines a Consumer pharmacists for Ask your questions explain any and to sheet Information this medicines. Keep about your have might you the future. for information review Medicines review to or pharmacist doctor can ask your You an can arrange doctor medicines. Your your home. The at visit you pharmacist to accredited to doctor and your with you pharmacist will work medicines and manage your to a plan on how make Medicines is called a Home This problems. avoid no cost at the government by and is paid for Review doctor. or your you to medicines about your the conversation Have questions the following doctor/pharmacist Ask your the burden of correctly taking multiple medicines taking multiple correctly of the burden and doctors visits to time, repeat the right at costs. and financial prescriptions, pharmacists for harm from avoid do to can we What polypharmacy? inappropriate medicines your of track Keep includes medicines that current your list of a Keep you dose, what the usual brand, the name, strength, take to and when and how use the medicine for that started also include when you might it. This you If it. prescribed first medicine and which doctor Record) Health (My record health an electronic have Medicines can provide can provide Medicines

Higher risk of death risk of Higher Falls and fractures Falls problems Memory Hospitalisation • such as problems, other also leads to Polypharmacy • • • called interactions. Taking multiple medicines can multiple Taking called interactions. of effects Harmful problems. health certain worsen medicines can include: taking multiple more likely to experience problems or harmful or harmful problems experience to likely more one medicine This is because sometimes effects. medicines, this is also with other badly combines What harm comes from inappropriate inappropriate from harm comes What polypharmacy? medicines, they are multiple people take When on the body for older people. on the body for that, over time, older people with multiple health health time, older people with multiple over that, medicines list of can end up with a long problems we often and doctors, different by recommended of effects the combined know do not several specialists. These doctors might not talk not might doctors These specialists. several know not and may together about the patient means is taking. This all the medicines a person Polypharmacy is more common in older people in older people common is more Polypharmacy and are problems health multiple who have a GP and – maybe doctors different by for cared What causes inappropriate causes inappropriate What polypharmacy? People with inappropriate polypharmacy can polypharmacy with inappropriate People effects. harmful experience needed; medicines may have been prescribed to to been prescribed have needed; medicines may (prescribing other medicines of the side effects treat be better. may options treatment cascade) or other many benefits in treating and preventing health health and preventing benefits in treating many polypharmacy sometimes However, problems. be may example, people For can be inappropriate. or no longer working not are taking medicines that Polypharmacy is when a person is taking 5 or is when a person Polypharmacy day. medicines every more and overtreatment happen across the the happen across and overtreatment Overdiagnosis pile up in older age. effects span, but the life entire cause is the harms this may example of clear One polypharmacy. inappropriate polypharmacy? What is is What September 2018 September Do I need to take all these medicines? Polypharmacy Glossary Considering . Deprescribing – carefully reducing the dose or More and more research now shows that stopping medicines that are no longer necessary or inappropriate polypharmacy can be reduced might be causing problems. through a process called deprescribing. Inappropriate polypharmacy – when the Deprescribing means reducing or stopping potential harms of taking multiple medicines medications that are no longer helping you or outweigh the potential benefits this may be due to may be causing problems. Deprescribing involves conflicts or interactions between medicines. patients, their family and/or carer, doctors and pharmacists who together: Interactions – when medicines combine badly 1. review all medicines a person is taking and why together and cause a possible harmful effect. 2. identify how likely each medicine will cause Polypharmacy – when a person is taking 5 or problems more regular medicines every day.

3. identify if each medicine is still right for the Home Medicines Review – a service where an person or could be stopped accredited pharmacist visits a person at home to 4. if medicines can be stopped, prioritise which discuss their medicines and identify any problems. Get the facts should be stopped first The pharmacist reviews the medicines and provides a report and suggestions for improvement (if 5. agree on a management plan needed) in discussion with the person’s GP. 6. stop medicines carefully, one by one Webster-pak TM – is one type of dose

7. meet frequently to see if the plan works or the administration aid which is a tablet/capsule What is polypharmacy? patient is experiencing problems. dispenser that is custom-prepared by a pharmacist. Dose administration aids can support people to remember to take their medicines at the right time Remember, it is very important to not abruptly each day. stop taking a medicine without the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. This can also lead to health problems.

QUESTIONS WE CAN ALL ASK To learn more about polypharmacy or see a list of questions to ask your , you can visit the Wiser Healthcare website.

http://www.wiserhealthcare.org.au

Disclaimer This fact sheet is not medical advice. | Produced by Wiser Healthcare, NHMRC funded Research Collaboration.