Running Head: PHARMACOLOGY
Running Head: PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacology
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Institutional Affiliation
Date
PHARMACOLOGY
2
One of the common risk factor associated with the polypharmacy is the age. The elderly
people are affected by the polypharmacy and this is specifically due to metabolic changes as well
as the reduced drug clearances. Another common risk associated with the polypharmacy is the
increasing number of the drug usage which increases the chances of the drug to drug interactions
The most effective approach is conducting a monthly evaluation of the patients. This is
important in revealing whether the drugs worked or there was more complication which was
caused by the drug which was prescribed to the patient. This is also important in changing the
dose as well as the type of the drug to be given to the patient when the previous ones were not
To prevent the cases of the adverse impacts of the polypharmacy medication regimes
amongst the elderly individuals, it is always important to prescribe a single drug contrary to
many medicines for the purposes of treating one disease. It is important to start the medication
with a low drug with clinical indication. It can be increased later if the need arises. The drugs can
be given once or twice on a daily basis as opposed to thrice a day. The drugs which are alleged to
References
PHARMACOLOGY
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Abdulraheem, I. (2013). A risk factor for the geriatric syndrome, morbidity &mortality. Aging
Sci., 1, e103.
Rushabh, J. D., & Akanksha, S. (2014). Polypharmacy: A global risk factor for elderly people.