Polypharmacy: Impact and Effects

Course release date: 7/1/2024 Course Overview This intermediate-level course will explore the realities for people taking multiple medications, mostly older adults.  Medication management is a challenge that can have impact on physical and mental health.  Inadvertent misuse of medication can not only affect the individual, but also the caregiver, and the greater community.  It is important that all healthcare providers gain insight into this challenge to understand the effects of polypharmacy, the impact on disease management, and effects it can have on treatment plans and long-term recovery.   Content includes aspects of multimorbidity, disease-specific polypharmacy issues, insight into hyperpolypharmacy, effects of polypharmacy on aging and quality of life, and deprescribing.