What is it about?

The rate at which healthcare practitioners are prescribing multiple drugs for psychiatric patients is rising globally. The exact cause is not known. This article describes the epidemiology, etiology and the effects of prescribing multiple drugs among psychiatric patients.

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Why is it important?

The use of multiple medications increase the risk of drug interactions, potential adverse consequences, falls, fractures including morbidity and mortality among psychiatric patients. Polypharmacy is also associated with cumulative toxicity, poor medication adherence and treatment non-compliance. The growing epidemic of polypharmacy thus poses a significant public health problem. This article highlights on the strategies for preventing and reducing unnecessary prescribing of drugs. A better understanding of physicians’ rationale for polypharmacy, patient tolerability, and effectiveness of this strategy is needed to guide clinicians and to inform the development of evidence based treatment guidelines.

Perspectives

Having a keen interest in psychiatry and neurosciences along with a background in public health, I was always motivated to reach out to the international medical community about the potential consequences and health hazards of prescribing multiple drugs among patients. As members of the healthcare field, we have an inherent responsibility to think and act in the best interest of our patients and prevent administration of unwanted and unnecessary drugs. However, not all polypharmacy is bad. Sometimes it is necessary to administer multiple drugs and has proven beneficial among psychiatric patients. This article provides recommendations and guidelines for polypharmacy practices in the healthcare field.

SONALI SARKAR

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Psychiatric Polypharmacy, Etiology and Potential Consequences, Current Psychopharmacologye, April 2017, Bentham Science Publishers,
DOI: 10.2174/2211556005666160916124719.
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