polypharmacy

noun

poly·​phar·​ma·​cy ˌpä-li-ˈfär-mə-sē How to pronounce polypharmacy (audio)
: the practice of administering many different medicines especially concurrently for the treatment of a single disease
also : the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient to treat usually coexisting conditions and which may result in adverse drug interactions

Examples of polypharmacy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another larger issue is polypharmacy, which is the regular use of 5 or more medications at the same time. Sophie Okolo, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 While polypharmacy is most common in older people, younger adults and even children, particularly those with complicated chronic conditions like epilepsy, learning disorders or mental health issues, can also end up on many medications. Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024 But taking many medicines simultaneously, known among medical experts as polypharmacy, increases people’s risk of experiencing severe side effects and drug interactions, said Dr. Nina Blachman, an associate professor of medicine and geriatrics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024 The path toward polypharmacy often starts with drugs that are used to treat A.D.H.D. Matt Richtel Annie Flanagan, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2022 Similarly, the use of dimensions as key secondary end points in many different diagnostic categories may lead to pseudospecific indications and polypharmacy. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2012 That practice, called polypharmacy, can increase the likelihood of harmful side effects, the suit said. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2023 Instances of polypharmacy do not always begin with a diagnosis of A.D.H.D. Matt Richtel Annie Flanagan, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2022 Moreover, if available antidepressants were magic bullets, then polypharmacy would not be so common. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 25 Nov. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polypharmacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polypharmacy was in 1762

Dictionary Entries Near polypharmacy

Cite this Entry

“Polypharmacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polypharmacy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

polypharmacy

noun
poly·​phar·​ma·​cy -ˈfär-mə-sē How to pronounce polypharmacy (audio)
plural polypharmacies
: the practice of administering many different medicines especially concurrently for the treatment of the same disease
also : the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient to treat usually coexisting conditions and which may result in adverse drug interactions
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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