Polypharmacy for Geriatric Patients (ALS)

Course overview

Polypharmacy is the use of five or more medications in a single day, and it is generally more prevalent among the vulnerable elderly population. While polypharmacy itself is not the issue, the drugs that make up the medication list are. Some medications do not mix well with others and can lead to unwanted outcomes or make a simple call more serious. Sometimes, you are the only one who sees the dangers of these medication mixtures. Caregivers are overworked or just unaware of the dangers. As a medical provider, seeing the red flags of a polypharmacy issue, it is up to you to speak up and bring attention to a possibly deadly combination of medications.