What Can I Do If I Think I’m Taking Too Many Medications?

Taking multiple medications on a daily basis (called polypharmacy) becomes a more common occurrence as we get older. Over the last few decades, the percentage of older adults in this situation has almost tripled. From 2015 to 2018, the CDC found that about 42% of people ages 65 and older took five or more prescription medications. 

Why should we care? Taking too many medications is the most common risk factor for adverse drug reactions. And prescription medications can be expensive. So minimizing the number of medications you take could lower your medication costs each month. This can be done through deprescribing, which is the process of stopping unnecessary or inappropriate medications over time.

Here, we’ll cover how to know if you are taking too many medications and how to approach your healthcare provider about stopping any potentially unnecessary medications.

What does it mean to take too many medications?

The term polypharmacy describes the use of many medications at one time. If you search online, you'll find different definitions. You’ll mostly see the term used to describe taking multiple medications, but it can also mean using multiple pharmacies. 

Taking at least five medications regularly is typically considered polypharmacy. This may sound negative, but it’s only a bad thing if the medications serve no purpose, or cause more harm than good.

Taking multiple medications is appropriate if:

• Each of your medications serves a purpose and you agree to take them as prescribed

• The medications are actually working

• Steps have been taken to minimize the chance of medication interactions (more on that below)

• You’re able to take all of your medications

On the other hand, taking multiple medications can be dangerous if:

• One or more of your medications isn’t actually needed or the dose is too high

• One or more of your medications isn’t working the way you or your healthcare provider thought it would

• There are interactions between the medications you take, making them unsafe

• You aren't able or don’t want to take one or more of your medications as prescribed

Why is taking too many medications dangerous?

Taking multiple medications per day can be a problem for many reasons, including a higher chance of:

• Side effects (also known as adverse drug reactions): a harmful or unpleasant response to a medication

• Prescribing cascades: when an ADR is mistaken for a new health condition and a new medication is prescribed to treat the condition

• Drug interactions: when two or more medications interact with each other

• Medication nonadherence: when a medication isn’t taken as prescribed

• Unnecessary expenses for you: additional costs from paying for multiple medications

• Unnecessary expenses for the healthcare system: when ADRs lead to hospital stays and more treatments, costing the healthcare system more money 

• Lower quality of life: when more medications lead to more social and emotional problems

Why is taking too many medications risky for older adults?

Certain characteristics of older adults make it more likely for them to experience negative side effects from medications. 

The reason older adults are more likely to take multiple medications is because they’re more likely to have multiple health issues.

Unfortunately, older adults can also experience medication side effects more intensely. This is because as you age, your metabolism changes, and so does the way your body gets rid of medications. 

As you get older, your body generally has less water and more fat than when you were younger. This changes how long medications stay in your body. Some medications may build up more easily. And since your liver and kidneys don’t process medications as efficiently as when you were younger, medications stay in your body longer. For these reasons, you may be more likely to feel the negative effects of medications.

It can be a challenge for older adults to avoid taking more than one medication. On one hand, you and your healthcare provider wants to make sure all your health conditions are being treated. But you’ll both want to make sure your medications don't cause more harm than good.

How do I know if I’m taking too many medications?

Taking fewer medications may improve your quality of life, but it's not always easy to know if you (or a loved one) would be better off with fewer medications. It never hurts to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you think you’re taking too many medications. They can review your medication list to make sure that each serves a purpose.

Is a specific number of medications considered too many?

There’s no specific number of medications that’s considered too many. What’s important is that each of your medications is actually treating one of your health conditions and is improving your health. A medication becomes a problem when it’s unnecessary, or when it causes more harm than good.

What are some signs that I might be taking too many medications?

Taking too many medications can lead to unwanted side effects. You or a loved one could be taking too many medications if any of the following symptoms occur, especially when starting a new medication:

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Tiredness

• Confusion

• Hallucinations

• Falls

• Dizziness

• Dry mouth

• Depression

• Anxiety

These symptoms can also be a result of the aging process in general. But they could also be caused by a medical condition or expected side effects from necessary treatments. So, talk to your healthcare provider before stopping any medications. Stopping them on your own can be dangerous or could lead to other problems.

How can I avoid taking too many medications?

If you or a loved one have many health issues, it may be appropriate to take several medications. But you always want to make sure that your medications are actually helping you. Ways to avoid taking unnecessary medications include:

• Asking your healthcare provider or pharmacist to review your medications regularly, especially when starting a new medication. They can check whether each medication is serving its intended purpose.

• Letting your provider or pharmacist know if you take any over-the-counter (OTC) medications or supplements since these can cause drug interactions.

• Sticking to one pharmacy when filling prescriptions so that your pharmacist is aware of all the medications you take.

• Telling your primary healthcare provider about all the medications you take, even if you get prescriptions from more than one provider.

How can I talk to my doctor if I think I’m taking too many medications?

Always talk with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping a medication. If you think you or your loved one might be taking too many medications, you can ask your healthcare provider some questions, including:

• Why am I taking each of my medications, and what health condition(s) do they treat?

• How should I take each medication? How many times a day?

• Are there any special considerations for any of my medications? For example, should I take any medications with food or at a certain time of day?

• Do any of my medications interact with each other (including vitamins or herbal supplements)?

• If I experience bothersome side effects while taking my medications, what should I do?

• Are all my medications needed? How will we determine whether each medication is doing its job?

If your provider thinks you’d be better off with fewer medications, they can talk to you about “deprescribing.” This is the process of lowering the dose of a medication or stopping it altogether. Your provider may decide to go ahead with deprescribing if a medication is no longer needed or if the benefits don’t outweigh the risks.

If I do need many medications, how can I take them safely?

If you need many medications, it’s important to take them as directed. Ask your healthcare provider to explain how to take each medication. If you manage medications for a family member, speak with their pharmacist or healthcare provider to learn how they should be taking their medications.

Knowing how often to take your medication, and at what time of day, is important. Ask if you can take your medications all at once, or if they need to be spaced out from one another. Also ask whether your medications should be taken with or without food.

If you take many medications, organize them in a way that makes sense to you. One way to do this could be with a pill box.

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Written by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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