A Guide to Taking Multiple Medications

Polypharmacy: Taking Multiple Medications

Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, has become increasingly common in today's world. While these medications are often essential for managing various health conditions, navigating the complex web of polypharmacy requires a thoughtful and informed approach. This guide aims to shed light on the challenges and strategies for effective medication management.

What will this article cover?

• Understanding polypharmacy and prescriptions
• The risks and challenges
• The role of health literacy
• Strategies for medication management
• The impact of technology
• Building a personalised medication management plan

Understanding Polypharmacy and Prescriptions

Polypharmacy isn't inherently negative; it becomes a concern when it leads to issues like drug interactions (medications reacting with one another), side effects, and decreased adherence to your medication plan. The government pledged to take action to prevent medicines being prescribed unnecessarily in England in 2021, with hopes of reducing the amount people are prescribed medications they no longer need.

Overprescribing refers to the administration of medications that are unnecessary or not desired, where the potential harm outweighs the benefits. This can occur when a more suitable alternative is available but not prescribed, the medication is suitable for a condition but not for the individual person, a person's condition changes making the medication no longer appropriate, or the person no longer requires the medication but continues to receive it.

The Risks and Challenges

Approximately 1 in 5 hospital admissions among those over 65 and up to 20% of total hospital admissions result from the adverse effects of medications. The more medications a person takes, the higher the likelihood that one or more of these medications will have undesired or harmful effects. Certain medications, like those for reducing blood pressure, can also increase the risk of falls, especially among the frail and elderly.

1 in 5 hospital admissions among those over 65 result from the adverse effects of medication

The Role of Health Literacy

What is health literacy? Health literacy is about a person's ability to understand and use information to make decisions about their health.

Someone with low health literacy will generally struggle to:

• read and understand health information
• know how to act on this information
• know which health services to use and when to use them

People with low health literacy are more likely to:

• live unhealthy lifestyles and poor general health
• have low use of preventative services, like vaccinations and screening
• have difficulty taking medicines correctly
• have increased A&E attendances and hospital admissions
• have reduced life expectancy

Understanding your medications, their purpose, and potential interactions can lead to more informed health decisions and improve your health literacy.

Strategies for Medication Management

Having open conversations with your doctor, nurse or other allied health professionals can enable you to discover ways to make polypharmacy more manageable.

The Impact of Technology

In the digital age, technology plays a crucial role in healthcare. Delve into how health technology solutions, like Remedy's medication management platform, can revolutionise how you manage your medications. Having personalised health insights, reminders and education allows for optimal health literacy.

Building a Personalised Medication Plan

Take a proactive approach to your health. Learn how to work with your healthcare team to develop a personalised medication plan that aligns with your lifestyle, preferences, and health goals.

Sound like a lot to manage? We're with you every step of the way!

Polypharmacy doesn't have to be a labyrinth without an exit. By understanding the complexities, embracing health literacy, and leveraging technology, you can navigate the challenges of polypharmacy with confidence. This is your compass to making informed decisions about your health amidst the intricacies of multiple medications.