Patients are often overwhelmed by medications, especially when they leave the hospital. EM Karuna/shutterstock.com This week’s report into polypharmacy highlights the need for regular medicine reviews for older Australians — a task best performed by pharmacists, says the PSA The report, from the University of Western Australia and University of New South Wales and led by pharmacist Dr Amy Page, found a 52% increase in the number of people taking at least five medicines between 2006 and 2017, rising to 935,240 people in 2017. Dr Page told the AJP this week that “Pharmacists are in a good position to see all the medications that people take – private scripts, PBS scripts, OTC medications, vitamins, minerals and herbs. “These all contribute to the overall medication use. We need to be supporting people to make appropriate decisions about non-prescription medications.” The report included only PBS-subsidised medicines, not including OTCs, vitamins, supplements […]