Research Paper on Maximizing Medication Benefits: The Benefits of Taking Multiple Drugs

Introduction

In many instances, the use of multiple drugs is the best way to manage certain medical conditions and, in the process, improve their quality of life (Alsuwaidan et al., 2019). A numbers research studies have found that when patients take multiple medications, the various drugs consumed interacts within the individuals system at a heightened frequency, some outcomes may be associated with such interactions some of which include increasing the potency of one medication thus ensuring that the underlying condition which stimulated its uptake is dealt with (Halli-Tierney et al., 2019). The interaction can also result in reduced potency of a drug resulting in zero intrinsic activity; thus, instead of treating a medical condition, the effects of the medicines, my function to worsen such conditions.

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Not all polypharmacy is associated with a negative outcome and inappropriate use of multiple drugs in managing medical conditions. It is common knowledge that certain conditions affecting the elderly population require a drug regimen comprising of numerous medicines to manage (Halli-Tierney et al., 2019). For example, multiple medications are needed to regulate the symptoms of heart conditions, and when consumed, the results are a phenomenon, to manage hypertension; there is a need to use more than one drug to adhere to the international guidelines on the management of high blood pressure. The use of multiple medications in the treatment of conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, among others, have been categorized as appropriate polypharmacy and are highly recommended by medics all around the globe (Alsuwaidan et al., 2019). It is inappropriate polypharmacy, which requires interventions as it is associated with multiple side effects. Nonetheless, whether one takes multiple drugs to manage a genuine condition as recommended by a qualified physician or careless prescription polypharmacy always increases the chances of contracting other diseases.

Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Polypharmacy Risk Identification

Risk identification involves the identification and characterization of patients with the highest probability of practicing polypharmacy as well as circumstances that may lead to such medical practices. Patients with ADE, as well as the elderly, have been documented as the individuals at the highest risk of developing complications arising from polypharmacy (Khambati et al., 2014). The geriatric patients are always associated with multiple health conditions as well as age-related physiological conditions resulting in reduced organ functions. The condition interferes with the healthy metabolism and elimination of drugs, especially those declines in physiological activities of kidneys and liver. Moreover, a reduction in total body weight and water level among this population results in an increase in fat, which interferes with drug kinetics and may lead to adverse effects.

With this knowledge, health care providers must, therefore, take into consideration the aligned factors and only prescribe medications that cannot lead to complications among this group (Khambati et al., 2014). The information should thus be disseminated to nursing homes and pharmacies to protect this population from the effects of polypharmacy.

High-Risk Prescription Practices

Quality health care provision is pegged on the identification and prescription of appropriate drugs. Therefore, health care providers need to identify and stop the order of inappropriate and high-risk medications. Several measures have been formulated to help identify medications that are potentially harmful/inappropriate (Khambati et al., 2014). One of the oldest techniques involved coming up with a list of potentially inappropriate drugs, which should not be prescribed to patients over the age of 65, the method is referred to as Beers criteria. A study carried out to investigate the impact of using Beer criteria showed that the technique had reduced significantly the probability of patients getting ADE. The Screening Tool of Older Persons Potentially Inappropriate

Creating Screening Tools for the Older Person before Prescription (STOPP/START Criteria)

The technique involves screening older patients to find out the right therapy under which the patient can be subjected to without creating an adverse effect. The criteria are developed and organized using high tech systems, in which a list of the drug-to-drug interactions as well as a drug to illness interaction is examined. A process that the medics ought to avoid but used more often (Khambati et al., 2014). The doctors use the list commonly to prescribe the right medication based on its adverse effect, as well as how it will interact with other drugs in the system. A study conducted to show the impact of using this criterion showed that it adjusted the odds of avoiding ADE by 95% as compared to using beer criteria.

Altering Clinical Targets

During drug development and clinical trials, the elderly and those who have cancer are not often considered in the study, yet they are at more risk of developing adverse effects from polypharmacy. Continuation of such practices will be more dangerous to this group of people (Halli-Tierney et al., 2019). By factoring in the population at risk of being harmed by medication during drug developmental stages, the researchers can come up with specific drugs that will be less harmful to them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the increased rate of ailments among the elderly population in contemporary society is an awakening call for proper medication and treatment processes to improve their health status. Polypharmacy being the concurrent utilization of multiple medications to eradicate a disease or an underlying condition together with well established evidenced-based strategies, becomes the best method to manage the situation.

References

Alsuwaidan, Almedlej, N., Alsabti, S., Daftardar, O., Al Deaji, F., Al Amri, A., & Alsuwaidan, S. (2019). An Overview of Polypharmacy in Elderly Patients in Saudi Arabia. Geriatrics, 4(2), 36.

Halli-Tierney, A. D., Scarbrough, C., & Carroll, D. (2019). Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing. American Family Physician, 100(1).

Khambati, H. K., Choueiri, T. K., Kollmannsberger, C. K., North, S., Bjarnason, G. A., Vaishampayan, U. N., ... & Donskov, F. (2014). Efficacy of therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma in aged patients. Clinical genitourinary cancer, 12(5), 354-358.