Which of the following is a potential outcome of polypharmacy?

Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, often defined as taking five or more concurrent medications. While it can sometimes be necessary for managing complex medical conditions, one significant potential outcome of polypharmacy is the increased risk of adverse drug interactions.

As the number of medications increases, so does the likelihood that one drug may interact negatively with another, leading to increased side effects, reduced therapeutic effectiveness, or other harmful consequences. Patients may experience confusion regarding their medication regimens, which can further contribute to these risks. Adverse drug interactions can also complicate the management of the patient’s health conditions, creating a cycle of further medication adjustments.

In contrast, while the reduction in medication cost, improved adherence, and enhanced efficacy of all medications might theoretically be desirable outcomes, they are not typical consequences associated with polypharmacy. Instead, polypharmacy often exacerbates costs due to the complexity of regimes and potential need for additional medications to manage side effects or interactions.