Polypharmacy

Conclusion In patients receiving polypharmacy, poor compliance was associated with increased mortality. Periodic telephone counselling by a pharmacist improved compliance and reduced mortality.

What is the morbidity and mortality of polypharmacy? To what extent does it make null and void those relative risk benefits the drug companies make sure we know about.

I have talked to so many oldies on zillions of pills and asked them what they are taking, what for and when.

"Oh I take this when I get headaches" This being digoxin - toxic, deadly even in overdose.

When left to their own devices they do things like rebottle their pills with wrong names on the bottle.

I reckon its a huge problem.

All elderly should have their medication in blister packs.