Polypharmacy in America
Hello everyone!
This week, I want to mention a few things I wrote about in a paper for class. The subject of the paper was about implementing a policy on polypharmacy in America. The paper focused on geriatric patients, but it can still apply to our dear pediatric patients.
The typical child may not have a long list of medications, but there are many children with various health problems that require that very long list of every day meds.
The problem of polypharmacy revolves mostly around two factors: a) meds that hurt each the patient when both are prescribed and b) meds that cancel each other out when prescribed together.
The origination of polypharmacy also revolves around two central factors: a) complex medical issues that require multiple specialists and b) the sometimes-very-real problem of a lack of communication between specialists about the current medications.
However, I will say that some forms of polypharmacy medication are required and aren't necessarily bad. Sometimes, more than one medication is necessary to properly control seizures. Sometimes, more than one medication is necessary to control hypertension or migraines or sickle cell anemia or Crohn's disease. Every situation is different.
But the top few ways to combat polypharmacy in your little one's medicine arsenal are as follows:
1) Carry a very accurate, very up to date list of current medications. Doctors are constantly changing medications, dosages, and frequencies. It is very important to make sure your list is the most accurate it can be.
2) Talk to your doctors about new medications and ask them what each one is for. It's okay to express your concerns about how many meds your child is on, and even alright to mention the word polypharmacy.
3) Make sure you are reading discharge paperwork and prescriptions thoroughly. You may not realize that certain medications have been discontinued or their frequencies have decreased or dosages have been made smaller.
Behind this quick synopsis is about 10 pages of thorough research if you are interested in reading more!
Until we have a policy intact, it is our duty to protect our children and ourselves from unnecessary polypharmacy! Please feel free to ask me any questions at all down below.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
This week, I want to mention a few things I wrote about in a paper for class. The subject of the paper was about implementing a policy on polypharmacy in America. The paper focused on geriatric patients, but it can still apply to our dear pediatric patients.
The typical child may not have a long list of medications, but there are many children with various health problems that require that very long list of every day meds.
The problem of polypharmacy revolves mostly around two factors: a) meds that hurt each the patient when both are prescribed and b) meds that cancel each other out when prescribed together.
The origination of polypharmacy also revolves around two central factors: a) complex medical issues that require multiple specialists and b) the sometimes-very-real problem of a lack of communication between specialists about the current medications.
However, I will say that some forms of polypharmacy medication are required and aren't necessarily bad. Sometimes, more than one medication is necessary to properly control seizures. Sometimes, more than one medication is necessary to control hypertension or migraines or sickle cell anemia or Crohn's disease. Every situation is different.
But the top few ways to combat polypharmacy in your little one's medicine arsenal are as follows:
1) Carry a very accurate, very up to date list of current medications. Doctors are constantly changing medications, dosages, and frequencies. It is very important to make sure your list is the most accurate it can be.
2) Talk to your doctors about new medications and ask them what each one is for. It's okay to express your concerns about how many meds your child is on, and even alright to mention the word polypharmacy.
3) Make sure you are reading discharge paperwork and prescriptions thoroughly. You may not realize that certain medications have been discontinued or their frequencies have decreased or dosages have been made smaller.
Behind this quick synopsis is about 10 pages of thorough research if you are interested in reading more!
Until we have a policy intact, it is our duty to protect our children and ourselves from unnecessary polypharmacy! Please feel free to ask me any questions at all down below.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
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