polypharmacy

[pol-ee-fahr-muh-see]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. the use of two or more drugs together, usually to treat a single condition or disease.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polypharmacy¹

First recorded in 1755–65; poly- + pharmacy

Example Sentences

Risks of such indiscriminate anything-but-opioid prescribing might include undertreated pain and the patient resorting to illicit opioids, addiction to the alternatives, and death from side effects, dose escalation or polypharmacy due to unresolved pain, or overdose.

Read more on Salon

In this group, there was a 9.5 percent increase in the prevalence of “polypharmacy,” which the study defined as taking three or more different classes of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, mood-stabilizing anticonvulsants, sedatives and drugs for A.D.H.D. and anxiety drugs.

Read more on New York Times

At the same time, some research using nationally weighted samples have revealed the increasing prevalence of polypharmacy among young people.

Read more on New York Times

Further, polypharmacy puts the individual at greater risk for drug interactions and adverse health outcomes, she said.

Read more on Science Daily

She also found that rates of polypharmacy, or when an individual takes five or more drugs at the same time, have risen to alarming levels.

Read more on Science Daily