Exam (elaborations)
NR 601 Week 2 Polypharmacy Graded Discussion
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NR 601 Week 2 Polypharmacy Graded Discussion
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Week 2: PolypharmacyDiscussion
, Polypharmacy is a common concern, especially in the elderly.
Discuss three risk factors for polypharmacy. Explain the rationale for why each listed item
is a risk factor.
Discuss three action steps you can take in your clinical practice to prevent
polypharmacy.
In your clinical practice have you seen providers address polypharmacy? If so, how?
Polypharmacy occurs when a patient is taking multiple medications with the potential for
interactions. The most susceptible population at major risk for polypharmacy is the elderly. As people
continue to live longer they have to worry about managing multiple chronic conditions that may require
medication management. Generally, polypharmacy involves the use 5 or more medications. not
forget there are people who not only use prescribed medications, but also herbal and over-the-counter
(OTC) medications. Not all health care providers are aware of each medication the patient many be
taking aside from the prescribed medications.
One risk factor for polypharmacy is age. According to IS Abdulraheem (2013) older adults are
affected more by adverse drug events
due to metabolic changes and decreased drug clearance associated with ageing this risk is compounded
by increasing numbers of drugs used. Polypharmacy increases the potential for drug-drug interactions
and also is a risk factor for hip
adherence and also lead to visual or cognitive disturbances. The elder population have a decline in their
health function, which age-related changes in pharmacokinetics like absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion can create great harm (IS, 2013). Thus, as a healthcare provider, it is
important to try to eliminate medications that are prescribed to people that are not necessary. We also
should be monitoring for toxicity and educating our patients about possible side effects.
Secondly, the elderly population are more at risk for having an adverse reaction (ADR) to the use
of polypharmacy. Due to the elderly having metabolic changes and reduce drug clearance medication are
not as easily excreted as some of a younger age. The half life of the drug ends up staying in their system
longer and they might end up taking their next dose when the previous medication is still in their system.
In order to avoid this single agent/drug should be prescribed instead of multiple drugs for the
treatment of the lowest start dose
and increase in dosage based on how effective the medication is for the patient. Reducing the amount of
times per day the patient takes the medication can also reduce the risk for an ADR. For example, if a
medication would normally be prescribed three times per day, instead instruct them to take in twice
daily.
Polypharmacy can affect people if they are receiving prescriptions from multiple health care
providers. This is often seen in people addicted to narcotics. Patient prescription databases
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