Polypharmacy
Overall, polypharmacy in MS patients is still a largely underexplored topic. The term is commonly used when a patient takes 5 or more medications daily, with polypharmacy rates of up to 59% reported for patients with MS [1-7]. Polypharmacy is more likely in older-age MS patients, those with co-morbidies and those with greater disability [2-4]. Polypharmacy is also correlated with cognitive deficits, increased hospitalization, higher relapse rates and a lower quality of life [2].
Younger patients may also take multiple medications daily [3]. In a cross-sectional cohort study of 131 women with MS in Germany, the mean age of patients was 36.4 years [3]. They were taking an average of 4.2 drugs daily, with 41% on 5 or more medications. Potentially dangerous drug interactions were significantly more frequent in the latter group (31.5% vs. 5.2% in patients without polypharmacy, p<0.001). Especially with regard to unplanned pregnancies in MS patients, polypharmacy and drug interactions pose significant health risks; 12 of the 26 clinically relevant drug interactions that were recorded included at least one active substance that would be contraindicated in pregnancy [1,3].
Effective networks between physicians and pharmacists would help to improve individual medication management of MS patients [2].
References
- Frahm N et al. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27(38): 4008-16. Return to content
- Frahm N et al. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2020; 19(2): 139-45. Return to content
- Frahm N et al. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2020; 13: 1756286420969501. Return to content
- Frahm N et al. Biol Sex Differ 2019; 10(1): 27. Return to content
- Frahm N et al. Sci Rep 2019; 9(1): 3743. Return to content
- Frahm N et al. PLoS One 2019; 4(1): e0211120. Return to content
- Thelen J et al. Mo Med 2021; 118(3): 239-45. Return to content
