Darkside of Medicine
Tne Risks of Polypharmacy
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Every medicine has its own potential side effects or adverse reactions, and each is prescribed for a specific reason. When multiple medicines are taken together, they interact within the body, taking into account the body's own health care needs, fitness level, and age, in highly individual ways. Over time, the body may adapt to a medicine, reducing its effectiveness or increasing unwanted effects, leading to changes in treatment. At the same time, new medicines ​
are continually being developed, repurposed, and prescribing guidance evolves. Clinicians must work within an ever-expanding and changing knowledge base. Within this complex system, patients also play an important role in their own well-being, particularly through reporting side effects, changes in symptoms, and treatment concerns.A 2012 study commissioned by the GMC and conducted in general practice aimed to determine the prevalence and nature of prescribing errors. It showed that 1 in 20 prescription items has an error and 1 in 550 potentially has a serious outcome
The prescribing cascade happens when a drug’s side effect is wrongly seen as a new illness, prompting the prescription of another drug. This can put the person at risk for further adverse effects from unnecessary medications. Identifying and stopping these cascades is a key step in improving medication safety, especially for older adults.