Epidemic of Polypharmacy and Suggestions to Control It
Gunnar B. Stickler MD1
1 Department of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN
The term "polypharmacy" is used to describe the excessive use of drug therapy. In 1980, I reviewed the evidence of a continuing epidemic of polypharmacy.1 In 1975, there were 1.7 billion visits per year to physicians in private practice.2 Such visits to a family physician resulted in the prescription of medications to 73% of the patient contacts; in 63% of the patient visits, medications were suggested by a pediatrician. Do two thirds of our patients require medication when seen in an ambulatory setting?
Pediatric hospitals did not fare much better. Of 993 patients admitted to a children's hospital, 36.7% received antibiotics.3 Using strict criteria, these authors concluded that 38% of medical patients received antibiotics inappropriately and 78% of the surgical patients did not require antibiotics.
