Abstract
Polypharmacy is defined as the concomitant usage of multiple medications. It can be related with the use of multiple or avoidable drugs at frequency or dosage greater than therapeutically needed and it can also be associated with prescription. At present, polypharmacy has gain importance as recipient of healthcare in older ages globally. In elderly patients polypharmacy is connected with numerous adverse reactions & drug-drug interactions leads to significant morbidity. Geriatrics is a rising specialty in south Asia, most importantly in Pakistan, where there are several reasons for the existence of polypharmacy. The drugs e.g. NSAIDs, cardiovascular, antibiotics which are commonly prescribed may cause adverse reactions when prescribed to the old age patients. Morbidity & the quality of life in elders can be affected by the drugs. Understanding of pharmacology & physiology of the elders besides the prescribing approach can be helpful in lowering the complications related to drugs used commonly in this age group.
