The effects of multiple medications
04/23/2024
Taking multiple medications can have adverse effects for older adults, potentially contributing to memory decline, fall risk, and other medical complications.
Barbara Farrell, PharmD, Senior Investigator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, spoke with the New York Times on polypharmacy – the use of multiple prescription drugs – and deprescribing guidelines, which aim to help reduce or stop prescriptions that are no longer useful.
Farrell and other experts recommend that patients can review their medications with doctors and health care providers, especially when a new drug is being recommended, to better understand if there are possible interactions between medications.
The Deprescribing Research Team also offers a workshop series, Talking About Medications, to guide patients and caregivers on how to approach conversations with health care providers about polypharmacy. Learn more about research, guidelines, and education resources on deprescribing.org.