Polypharmacy: cure or curse?

Polypharmacy is common in older people, who are more likely to have multiple co‐morbidities. Coupled with age‐related physiological decline, undoubtedly this carries the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and multiple adverse symptoms, with consequent increased hospital admissions. This article discusses a recent audit on polypharmacy in older people conducted by the authors in a district general hospital.