Tag: polypharmacy

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Real Life Examples: Polypharmacy and the Prescribing Cascade Part 1 of 2

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Polypharmacy isn’t just about medication count—it’s about cumulative risk and unintended consequences. One of the biggest drivers is the prescribing cascade, where a drug side effect is mistaken for a new condition, and another medication gets added instead of addressing the root cause.

You see this all the time in practice. A patient starts amlodipine and develops edema, then gets placed on furosemide. Or donepezil leads to urinary symptoms, and oxybutynin is added—potentially worsening cognition. These patterns add risk quickly.

In this episode, I’ll break down common examples that I have recently encountered in practice.

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10 Commandments of Polypharmacy Part 2 of 2

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Today’s sponsor of the 10 Commandments of Polypharmacy podcast is FreedAI. Freed listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you.

FreedAI is offering a discount exclusive to RLP listeners! Users will get $50 off their first month with Freed! Use the discount code: RLPPOD

Here is part 2 of 2 on the final 5 of the 10 commandments of polypharmacy.

6. Thou shalt identify limits for medications not intended for chronic use as well as not continue a medication indefinitely for symptoms that have an expected short duration

7. Thou shalt not start a medication from a similar medication class without appropriate rationale

8. Thou shalt not initiate a medication without considering medications that may treat duplicate conditions – Kill two birds with one stone

9. Thou shalt consider eliminating or reducing medications at every medication review

10. Thou shalt be willing to accept risk in discontinuing a medication if they were willing to accept the risk of initiating a medication

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

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Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101

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Ten Commandments of Polypharmacy – Part 1

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On this special episode, I provide some real-life examples and layout 5 of my 10 commandments of polypharmacy.

Today’s sponsor of the 10 Commandments of Polypharmacy podcast is FreedAI. Freed listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you.

FreedAI is offering a discount exclusive to RLP listeners! Users will get $50 off their first month with Freed! Use the discount code: RLPPOD

Here are the first 5 commandments that are addressed in the podcast.

1. Thou shalt not start, ask for, dispense, or administer medication without reviewing a medication list that is accurate, up to date, and complete with over-the-counter medications and supplements

2. Thou shalt consider utilizing non-drug approaches and interventions to solve patient problems before initiating medication

3. Thou shalt assess if a medication is effective before adding a new medication for the same condition

4. Thou shalt consider any new symptom is an adverse effect of another medication until proved otherwise

5. Thou shalt not start a medication without an appropriate indication and assessing appropriate lab work

Be sure to check out our free Top 200 study guide – a 31 page PDF that is yours for FREE!

Support The Podcast and Check Out These Amazing Resources!

NAPLEX Study Materials

BCPS Study Materials

BCACP Study Materials

BCGP Study Materials

BCMTMS Study Materials

Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology (Amazon Highly Rated)

Guide to Drug Food Interactions (Amazon Best Seller)

Pharmacy Technician Study Guide by Meded101