Polypharmacy in the Elderly: Focus on Drug Interactions and Adherence in Hypertension

Polypharmacy is highly prevalent in the elderly due to an increased number of co-morbid disease states that accompany aging. Hypertension is one common disease that can be challenging to treat in the elderly due to the body's physiologic changes, potential risks for side effects, medication interactions, and decreased medication adherence. A thorough medication assessment for each patient is essential when determining pharmacotherapeutic options in the elderly.