The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront two popular medical terms — polypharmacy and multimorbidity.
Polypharmacy means having at least five medications in a day, while multimorbidity means having multiple medical conditions. During the pandemic, we are into multiple diseases and multiple medications.
Multimorbidity was common among the elders, but now it has become common among children, teenagers and younger adults as well. This is due to obesity and its related health challenges. Due to multimorbidity, there are multiple medications which lead to health risks.
Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are associated with a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection.
For example, if one suffers a heart attack while being infected with the coronavirus and survives, then he or she will come back home with ten or more medications. Such prescriptions are a major challenge to health.
What polypharmacy does to your body: Polypharmacy is not the appropriate use of medicine, it shows that you have not consulted a medical specialist and patients are not advised how these medicines interact and have adverse effects on critical body organs. The other reason is not keeping a proper medical record and each visit results in addition of medicines to the earlier ones. This leads to polypharmacy which, in turn, results in adverse reactions, dependency, disability and more hospital visits.
Signs of polypharmacy: Feeling lethargic, skin abrasions, bad digestion and bowel movement, changes in mood and slowing down of important organs in the body. This leads to more illness and at times not adhering to the prescribed medication leads to adverse health conditions.
Polypharmacy can be avoided. To have better healthcare and reduce the risk of other health problems, we need to open out to our family or home physician. One must communicate and be clear on medical history and the related medicine prescribed. Asking the doctor about prescribed medicines and their side effects, if any, and having knowledge of the medicine composition helps.
Remember to always:
* Have correct medication transitions when you are moving from one specialist to another.
* Take stock of the medicines one is advised, beware of duplication, go for generic medicines.
* Be clear with the doctor and physicians about possible reactions and its substitute.
* Go in for the correct dosages, do not be your own doctor.
If you are aware of polypharmacy and take preventive steps, you ensure a better life and healthcare for yourself.
