A report from the Therapeutics Initiative (TI) at the University of British Columbia urges doctors to minimize “polypharmacy”–the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by some patients.
The Therapeutics letter quotes research showing that 4 per cent of British Columbians over the age of 85 are taking 10 drugs or more. Thirty-one per cent in that age group are taking at least five drugs.
TI authors urge physicians to take into account the serious and often life-threatening consequences of multiple prescriptions and to take measures to simplify the medication regimens of their patients.
Therapeutics Letters summarize drug trial findings and other types of studies for subscribing physicians and pharmacists across B.C.
Full story here
The Therapeutics Letter is here
Story sources:
Tom Perry
Clinical Assistant Professor
UBC Department of Medicine
Pager: 604.707.1427
Email: tom.perry@ti.ubc.ca
