What is polypharmacy and why is it risky?

It means taking several medicines at once. More medicines mean more chances of interactions, side effects and errors, and a higher fall risk. A regular review helps keep the list to what is truly needed.

How often should an older adult’s medicines be reviewed?

Have a doctor or pharmacist review them periodically, and whenever a new medicine is added or after a hospital stay. Bring your full, up-to-date medicine list each time.

Can I stop a medicine if I feel fine?

Not on your own. Some medicines must be reduced gradually, or are preventing problems you cannot feel. Ask your doctor about safely stopping (deprescribing) anything you no longer need.

Are over-the-counter medicines and supplements safe with my prescriptions?

Not always — they can interact with or duplicate your prescriptions, and some "herbal" products have been found adulterated. Check with your pharmacist before adding anything.

Which medicines make falls more likely?

Sedatives and sleeping pills, some antidepressants and anticholinergic drugs, and certain blood-pressure medicines can cause drowsiness or dizziness. If you feel unsteady, tell your doctor — a review may reduce the risk.

Medication Safety for Older Adults (Singapore)

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 22 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Older adults are more likely to take several medicines at once (polypharmacy) and to process drugs differently as kidney and liver function change, which raises the risk of side effects, interactions and falls. The safest habits are simple: keep one up-to-date list of everything you take (including over-the-counter medicines and supplements), use one regular pharmacy, and have a doctor or pharmacist review your medicines periodically to stop anything no longer needed. Never adjust or stop medicines on your own, and check before adding anything on top of your prescriptions.

Managing medicines well becomes more important with age, because both the number of medicines and the body’s sensitivity to them tend to rise. The good news is that a few straightforward habits prevent most problems.

Why the risk is higher with age

Older adults often live with several chronic conditions and therefore take several medicines. At the same time, age-related decline in kidney and liver function slows how drugs are cleared, so a “normal” dose can build up. The result is a higher chance of side effects, drug interactions and medication errors than in younger people.

Polypharmacy and falls

Taking many medicines is linked to a higher risk of falls, and certain “fall-risk-increasing” drugs make it worse – sedatives and sleeping pills, some antidepressants, anticholinergic drugs, and some blood-pressure medicines that can cause drowsiness or dizziness on standing. If you feel unsteady, drowsy or dizzy, tell your doctor: a review may reduce the risk.

Medication review and deprescribing

A periodic, structured review with a doctor or pharmacist checks that every medicine is still needed, still working, and that its benefits outweigh its risks – and safely stops or reduces those that aren’t (“deprescribing”). Reviews work best when clinician-led; one Singapore study found most older adults and caregivers were willing to deprescribe when their doctor recommended it. For the in-depth treatment, see our guide to polypharmacy and medication review.

One list, one pharmacy

Keep a single, current medicine list – names, doses, timing and what each is for, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and TCM – and bring it to every appointment so each clinician sees the full picture. Using one regular pharmacy adds a second safety net to catch duplicated drugs and dangerous combinations (see drug interactions).

Practical aids for taking medicines right

Pill organisers (day and time compartments) and pharmacy-prepared blister or dose packs reduce missed and double doses; alarms and phone reminders help, and simplifying the regimen (fewer doses a day, aligned timings) makes it easier to keep up. Involving a caregiver or family member – to help set up packs, track refills and watch for side effects – is especially valuable for those with vision or memory difficulties.

Over-the-counter medicines and self-adjusting

Over-the-counter painkillers, cough and cold remedies, and supplements or TCM can interact with prescriptions or duplicate them, so check before adding anything. Equally, don’t stop or change doses on your own if you feel better or worse – call your doctor or pharmacist first, because abrupt changes can be harmful.

Related medication-safety guides

Sources

HealthHub (MOH) / Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore — medicine-safety guidance and consumer safety (interactions; adulterated “herbal” products).
World Guidelines for Falls Prevention (European Geriatric Medicine) — review and deprescribe fall-risk-increasing drugs as part of falls prevention.
Geriatric-medicine literature — persistent polypharmacy and injurious-fall risk; clinician-led medication review and deprescribing (common targets: benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, long-term PPIs, NSAIDs).
Singapore study — older adults’ and caregivers’ willingness to deprescribe when recommended by a doctor.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist. This is general information about medicines in Singapore, not personalised medical advice. Medicine names, doses and rules vary by person and product — always follow the label and your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions, and read the patient information leaflet. In a medical emergency, call 995. You can also report a suspected side effect or unsafe health product to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Medication Safety for Older Adults in Singapore