Canadian Medical Guide > Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment > Therapeutics > Drug Therapy > Polypharmacy Terms and Definitions




Polypharmacy

Medical Definition: The use of multiple drugs administered to the same patient, most commonly seen in elderly patients. It includes also the administration of excessive medication. Since in the United States most drugs are dispensed as single-agent formulations, polypharmacy, though using many drugs administered to the same patient, must be differentiated from DRUG COMBINATIONS, single preparations containing two or more drugs as a fixed dose, and from DRUG THERAPY, COMBINATION, two or more drugs administered separately for a combined effect. (From Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)
Guide Notes: note category: a type of DRUG THERAPY, not a pharmacy specialty; multiple drugs given to the same patient; do not confuse with DRUG COMBINATIONS ( = 2 or more drugs in a single dosage form) or with POLYCHEMOTHERAPY see DRUG THERAPY, COMBINATION ( = 2 or m

Polypharmacy Medical Definitions and Terms

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