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Polypharmacy
- managing the challenges

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Should you find yourself taking many medicines or medicines that are no longer needed, doing this can increase the risk of side effects, drug interactions, and poorer health.

The guidance explains that people who take ten or more medicines should be identified and offered a full medicines review with a pharmacist. This review examines all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines to

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ensure each one is still needed, safe, and working well for the patient.

A good medicines review can help to:
 

  • Reduce unnecessary or harmful medicines

  • Improve overall health and well-being

  • Make medicines easier to manage

  • Help patients feel more confident about taking their medicines

  • Reduce wasted medicines

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Many people with long-term or complex conditions find it hard to manage multiple medicines, especially when prescriptions are added over time. Sometimes medicines remain on repeat prescriptions even when they are no longer helpful. This can increase the risk of side effects and may lead to avoidable hospital admissions.

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Pharmacists are specially trained to review medicines and work alongside GPs and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients are taking the right medicines, at the right doses, for the right reasons. Working together across healthcare teams helps to provide safer, more patient-centred care.

If you are taking many medicines or feel unsure about your prescriptions, you may wish to ask your GP or pharmacist about arranging a medicines review.

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