The burden of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication in Nigeria: a clarion call for deprescribing practice

Abstract

The burden of polypharmacy and PIMs in Nigeria In Nigeria, polypharmacy is common in clinical practice settings. Patients using between six and twelve medications have a higher risk of adverse drug events than patients with a lower quartile of drug use (Steinman et al. 2006). Akande and Ologe found that polypharmacy (particularly involving injectable formulations) and under-usage of life-saving drugs were common at a secondary healthcare facility in the North-central region of the country (Akande and Ologe 2007). The major risk factors for polypharmacy were reported as age, level of education, and diagnosis (Igbinomwanhia et al. 2017). The burden of polypharmacy had several clinical effects on the patients, ranging from medication non-compliance, addiction to drug interactions