10 Signs You’re Taking Too Many Prescriptions

You have access to good health care

Yep: Just being a patient and growing old with good insurance means you could be at risk for over-prescribing. Prescription drugs are designed to heal or manage long-term health issues, but some patients are victims of something called polypharmacy—they’re taking too many prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds, plus supplements. Currently, nearly half of men and two-thirds of women over 65 in the United States are on five or more medications, which is the accepted definition of polypharmacy. Sometimes patients get prescriptions they don’t need, or two or more pills in their regimen are interacting in dangerous ways. “It is not uncommon for patients to be on multiple meds from multiple doctors at one time,” warns Pawan Grover, MD, a spine specialist in Houston, Texas. “This is dangerous because we don’t know the complex interactions and side effects of so many drugs.”