Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy is defined as the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition, or the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient, for one or more conditions. It's a diagnosis that sometimes appears on medical charts of patients suffering reactions to the numerous drugs they have been placed on. Polypharmacy has become an increasing problem. It ranks with many common diseases as a cause of hospital admissions and it is a contributing factor to spiraling medical costs.

Older people are especially likely to be on medication for more than one complaint.