Polypharmacotherapy in the elderly: too much of a good thing Elderly patients taking multiple medications increase the risk of developing an adverse reaction to the drug. Not only does the aging process have an effect on how older adults process medications, but older adults take more medications than their younger counterparts. According to Conry (2005), the elderly patient takes on average 5 prescription drugs and two non-prescription drugs (Conry, 2005). Although medications are often necessary to improve the quality of life of older adults, nonpharmacological methods should be used whenever possible. Healthcare providers need to understand how aging affects the body's response to medications, which medications pose greater risks to older patients, how to recognize medication-related problems, and, most importantly, how to prevent adverse events. Causes of Polypharmacy Polypharmacy among elderly patients occurs for a variety of reasons. Today, more medications are available to treat specific diseases and symptoms than ever before. New discoveries that have led to new and more effective medications for patients have helped patients in many ways (Bender, 2005). Unfortunately, these findings have also fueled the inappropriate and excessive use of medications. Drugs that used to be prescription-only are now easily available over the counter. Additionally, the use of complementary and alternative herbs is becoming increasingly popular. Not only does the quantity of drugs available contribute to polypharmacy, but also the fact that elderly patients are more likely to have multiple health disorders. People over the age of 65 are more likely to have several chronic conditions that require one or more medications to manage (Conry, 2005). When elderly patients… half of the article… N., & Urban, CQ (2011). Pharmacology for nurses: a pathophysiological approach. In . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.Bender, K. J. (2005). Developments of drugs for diseases of the elderly. Geriatric Times, 1(1). Retrieved from http://www.cmellc.com/geriatrictimes/g000637.htmlCaskie, G. I., & Willis, S. L. (2004). Consistency of self-reported medications with drug prescription records in low-income older adults. Gerontologist, 44(2). Retrieved from Conry, M. (2005). Polypharmacy: Pandora's treasure chest of medicines []. Geriatric Times, 1(3). Retrieved from http://www.cmellc.com/geriatrictimes/g001028.htmlFick, D. M., Cooper, J. W., Wade, W. E., Waller, J. L., MacLean, J. R., & Beers, M. H. (2004). Updating the beer criteria for potentially inappropriate drug use in older adults: findings from a US consensus expert panel. Internal Medicine Archive, 163.