Overmedication
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Overmedication describes the excessive use of over-the-counter or prescription medicines for a person. Overmedication can have harmful effects, such as non-adherence or interactions with multiple prescription drugs.
Overmedication describes the excessive use of over-the-counter or prescription medicines for a person. Overmedication can have harmful effects, such as non-adherence or interactions with multiple prescription drugs.
Elderly
Seniors (65 years old and up) are possible users of overmedication. Seniors are disproportionately affected by not only adverse drug events, but also drug interactions and more hospital admissions. The term for individuals taking five or more medications is polypharmacy, which commonly occurs in elderly people, increasing their risk of overmedication. Medical providers are generally hesitant to prescribe polypharmacy in the elderly due to the risk of harmful drug interactions. Concerns with polypharmacy and elderly groups are reduced medication adherence, increased fall risk, cognitive function impairment, and adverse drug reaction. Almost 75% of clinic visits result in people obtaining a written prescription. More careful prescribing practices could increase medication adherence in elderly people. Single-pill combination formulations make it easier for a person to monitor medications.
Overprescription
Antibiotics
As antibiotics inhibit bacterial infections, they are a commonly prescribed medication. Overuse of these medications over the years has contributed to reduced efficacy against certain bacteria due to antimicrobial resistance, a global medical concern. Antibiotic overprescription is a potential problem in acute care, primary hospitals, and dental offices. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are increasing. A systemic review of admitted COVID-19 patients who were prescribed antibiotics showed that 80% of the admitted people were given antibiotics upon admission without confirmed bacterial coinfections. Physicians prescribe antibiotics for non-indicated diagnoses, such as viral infections, possibly contributing to more antibiotic-resistant infections, greater adverse drug events, more drug-drug interactions, and deaths. Dentists may prescribe antibiotics for non-indicated conditions that could otherwise be treated with other interventions, according to clinical guidelines.
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