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When an elderly patient presents you with multiple over the counter medications that he or she is taking, it is most important to initiate a comprehensive medication review.

Approximately 44% of older adults take five or more medications, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy, which significantly increases the risk of adverse drug events. Therefore, when an elderly patient presents you with multiple over the counter medications that he or she is taking, it is most important to initiate a thorough medication review, considering all prescription and non-prescription drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies. This critical first step helps identify potential drug interactions, duplicate therapies, and other risks to patient safety.