title: Polypharmacy in Older Adults.
abstract: Polypharmacy, by definition, is the concurrent use of several different medications consumed by a person. Often these multiple medications are in the same class and are used to treat more than one chronic condition. Older individuals are often faced with issues of polypharmacy due to multiple chronic conditions and multiple providers. The risks associated with polypharmacy can lead to increased adverse effects, falls, and decreased risk of medication compliance. This paper will discuss the issues surrounding polypharmacy and provide a case example to illustrate the significance of this problem.
authors.affiliation: Patricia T. Alpert, DrPH, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP, is the founding Dean at Arizona College, Las Vegas Campus, Las Vegas, Nevada. Tricia Gatlin, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada.
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: Tricia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gatlin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019338:Polypharmacy