More than 1 in 5 older U.S. adults were potentially at risk of a major drug-drug interaction from 2021 to 2023, according to a study published Sept. 24 in JAMA. Researchers analyzed nationally representative data from community-dwelling adults ages 62 to 85.
Here are five things to know:
- Prescription polypharmacy increased. The prevalence of prescription medication polypharmacy rose from 31% in 2015-2016 to 35.7% in 2021-2023. Researchers defined polypharmacy as concurrent regular use of at least five medications or supplements.
- Potentially major drug interactions declined. Use of potentially major interacting drug regimens fell from 25.7% to 22.3% during the study period.
- Antidepressants were the most common class involved in potentially major interactions. In 2021-2023, antidepressants accounted for 7.21%, followed by statins at 5.23% and antiplatelet therapy at 4.47%.
- Opioid and benzodiazepine interactions declined. Interacting regimens involving opioid analgesics fell from 5.56% to 4.04%, while those involving benzodiazepines declined from 2.05% to 0.87%.
- Muscle relaxant interactions increased. The prevalence of interacting regimens involving muscle relaxants rose from 1.35% to 2.49%.
