polypharmacy
Pronunciation: pol-ee-FAR-muh-see
The concurrent use of multiple medications by a single patient, commonly defined in geriatric contexts as five or more drugs taken simultaneously.
Full Definition
Polypharmacy refers to the simultaneous prescription and use of multiple medications, typically defined in geriatric rehabilitation literature as five or more drugs at one time, although some sources use a threshold of four or more. In older adults, polypharmacy significantly increases the risk of adverse drug reactions, falls, cognitive impairment, and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Editors reviewing clinical documents should note that 'polypharmacy' is a single unhyphenated word and should not be confused with 'poly-pharmacy' or split across lines in a misleading manner. The term may carry either a neutral (descriptive) or pejorative (inappropriate prescribing) connotation depending on context, and editors should ensure authors use it consistently within a document.
Usage
Usage note: One word, no hyphen. Clarify in context whether the term is used descriptively (≥5 drugs) or pejoratively (inappropriate prescribing). The threshold should be defined on first use in research documents.
In Context
- "Polypharmacy was identified as a contributing factor to the patient's recurrent falls prior to admission." — Geriatric assessment report
- "Medication reconciliation on admission revealed polypharmacy, with the patient taking eleven prescribed drugs." — Pharmacist consultation note