From one prescription to five: the medication trap patients in Spain need to know

Older individuals in Spain often require multiple prescriptions to manage various chronic health issues. However, researchers have identified 24 potential prescribing cascades that could lead patients to unnecessarily take additional medications. A prescribing cascade occurs when a side effect from one drug is mistaken for a new health issue, prompting another prescription.

This can result in an increasing list of medications without any clear connection between them. Some of the most common cascades involve iron supplements followed by laxatives, statins followed by pain medication, and cholinesterase inhibitors followed by sleep medication. While not all combinations are problematic, the issue arises when a medication side effect is misattributed to a separate condition, leading to unnecessary prescriptions.

Spanish healthcare can be particularly burdensome for expats, who may have prescriptions from multiple countries. It is crucial for patients to provide a comprehensive list of all their medications, including over-the-counter products and supplements, to ensure healthcare professionals have a complete picture of their treatment history.

Keeping an updated medication list and discussing potential side effects with healthcare providers can help prevent unnecessary prescriptions and reduce medication-related harm.