Deprescribing To Improve Polypharmacy

Abstract

Polypharmacy is defined as an irrational use of medicines where the number of drugs prescribed to a patient can be considered excessive [1]. It isestimated that more than 50% of all drugs prescribed are unnecessary [2]. It is also estimated that 50 percent of all the patients fail to take these medicines correctly, thereby compounding the problem [2].Some authors define Polypharmacy as the use of a greater number of drugs than clinically indicated [3]. The main issue with Polypharmacy is duplication of therapy, antagonist effects and non-compliance. It becomes quite difficult for patients to comply with taking medicines once they go above four. As a result patients 
dispose of large quantities of expired or unused medicines from time to time. This leads to escalating health funder’s cost both in public and private sector.