overmedication
Too many pills
Overmedication is the use of more medication than necessary or appropriate—whether too many drugs, too high a dose, or treatment where none is needed.
The term often appears in discussions of elderly patients prescribed numerous drugs with overlapping or conflicting effects, or children given psychiatric medications too readily: The nursing home was cited for overmedication of residents.
To overmedicate is the corresponding verb.
Using numerous drugs concurrently
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- toxicityCapacity to cause harm
- contraindicationsReasons to avoid treatment
complications · hospitalization · falls · confusion · delirium · bleeding · misdiagnosis
Compulsive substance reliance
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
- opioidsReceptor-binding pain relievers
benzodiazepines · sedatives · narcotics · painkillers · tranquilizers · antidepressants · stimulants · tapering
Advanced in age
- pediatricRelating to child medicine
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- frailtyWeakness of body
- end-of-lifeNearing death phase
Ongoing observation of something
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- simplificationMaking something less complex
- appropriatenessQuality of being suitable
polypharmacy
Using numerous drugs concurrently
- side-effectsSecondary, unintended outcomes
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- toxicityCapacity to cause harm
contraindications · complications · hospitalization · falls · confusion · delirium · bleeding · misdiagnosis
addiction
Compulsive substance reliance
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- habituationDiminished reaction over time
opioids · benzodiazepines · sedatives · narcotics · painkillers · tranquilizers · antidepressants · stimulants · tapering · detox
elderly
Advanced in age
end-of-life · palliative · institutionalized · disabled · uninsured
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- simplificationMaking something less complex
appropriateness · geriatrician · compliance · adherence · evidence-based
- overuseoveruse, overconsumption, overexploitation, excess, waste
- elder abuseelder neglect, elder fraud, senior neglect, nursing home abuse, caregiver abuse
overmedicationundermedication
Inadequate therapeutic dosage
underprescription · underdosing · underprescribing · undertreating · undertreated
overmedicationprecision medicine
Treatment based on individual characteristics