Published Paper Details:

Polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, is on the rising in globally, driven by the increasing prevalence of comorbidities resulting from acute and chronic illnesses. While aimed at improving patient care and quality of life, polypharmacy presents significant challenges, especially among the older population with multimorbidity. The associated risks include adverse outcomes such as mortality, falls, adverse drug reactions, prolonged hospital stays, and readmissions. The term lacks a universally agreed clinical definition, reflecting the complexity of determining its scope . This article explores the multifaceted causes of polypharmacy, including over-the-counter medication availability easily , alternative treatment methods, ease of access to medications, comorbidities, multiple consultations, and adverse drug effects. Factors associated with the polypharmacy such as Patient-related factors, disease conditions, healthcare-related elements, and prescribing-related behaviors contribute to the phenomenon in the polypharmacy. The consequences of polypharmacy encompass increased healthcare costs, adverse drug events, medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity, and geriatric syndromes.