In many long-term care facilities today, elderly patients are prescribed a wide variety of medications to manage chronic health conditions and pain.

Polypharmacy refers to the practice of taking several medications concurrently to treat these conditions. Polypharmacy has the potential to become problematic, especially in cases where elderly patients are prescribed too many medications by multiple healthcare providers working independently of each other. Such as when a resident has several physicians each treating a different disease, the physicians may not be aware of what the other is prescribing thus causing interactions and other risks. An example might be a resident that has a cardiologist for their hypertension, an endocrinologist for their diabetes, and a pulmonologist for their COPD.

Due to the many side effects of medications, polypharmacy can increase the risk of vision and mental impairment in the elderly. It can also increase the risk of falls and injuries such as hip fractures.

The other complications that can arise from polypharmacy are frailty, disability, multiple visits to the clinic, and prolonged hospital stays.

What Kind of Medications Are Considered High Risk for the Elderly Populations?

Cardiovascular Medications

A few commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications such as Clonidine and Methyldopa can cause low blood pressure and sedation.

Narcotics

A few examples of narcotics that are commonly prescribed to the elderly to control pain are Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Tramadol.

All these medications share a common side effect confusion and sedation. In addition to those side effects, narcotics commonly slow breathing and at times cause respiratory failure.

Anticholinergic Medications

Medications such as antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines are also commonly prescribed for the elderly and can cause memory loss, hallucinations, and blurry vision.

Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatories

These medications can increase the risk of kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and high blood pressure.

Due to all the potential adverse events and increased risk of injury to the elderly patient taking these medications, use should be minimized if possible.

From Nursing CE Central