Polypharmacy: From Common to Common Sense

It is not uncommon for adults with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD) to have multiple comorbidities and to be on a number of medications. As a result, they are at risk for polypharmacy, which can lead to a prescribing cascade, where a new drug is prescribed to address a side effect or adverse reaction of another. When the pharmacist, prescriber, and other team members work together to address polypharmacy in this population, it not only can prevent the prescribing cascade and keep people out of the hospital, but it also can help improve quality of life and enable them to be as functional and independent as possible. This article explores 4 steps for the team to take.

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