7 Steps

Polypharmacy guidance: realistic prescribing
Scottish Government Effective Prescribing & Therapeutics Division
Polypharmacy icon of two pills

7 Steps to appropriate polypharmacy - (view image - opens in new browser window)

Step 1: What matters to the patient

Step 2: Identify essential drug therapy

Step 3: Does the patient take unnecessary drug therapy?

Step 4: Are therapeutic objectives being achieved?

Step 5: Is the patient at risk of ADRs or suffers actual ADRs?

Step 6: Is drug therapy cost-effective?

Step 7: Is the patient willing and able to take drug therapy as intended?