Is it safe to take multiple medications at once?

There are several risks when taking multiple medicines. You may be more likely to have side effects. Because most medicines can have side effects, the more medicines you take, the more likely you will have side effects. Taking certain medicines can also increase the risk for falls.

Can we take different medicines at the same time?

While the medication may help control various health issues, taking them together can cause more harm than good, says Dr Sushila Kataria, Internal Medicine, Medanta.

Can you take different medications at the same time?

As long as a doctor or pharmacist has taken into account the effect of taking two or more medicines at the same time it should be perfectly safe.

What are the risks of taking multiple medications at once?

Risks of Taking Multiple Medicines. Taking certain medicines can also increase the risk for falls. You are at higher risk for drug interactions. An interaction is when one medicine affects how another medicine works. For example, taken together, one medicine may make the other medicine stronger.

Do prescription medicines have side effects?

Prescription medicines, while helpful in treating or preventing relevant health conditions, often have side effects, and sometimes the side-effect costs outweigh the benefits of the drug. A classic example is benzodiazepines – prescribed to help people sleep, they also increase the risk of falls and broken bones in elderly people.

When to tell your doctor about side effects of medication?

Some side effects happen just when you start taking a medicine. Some happen only once in a while. But other side effects may make you want to stop taking the medicine. Tell your doctor if this happens. He or she may be able to prescribe a different medicine or help you deal with side effects in other ways.

Why do people take different medicines at the same time?

The medicines might be taken for the same illness, such as quinsy (an abscess in the throat), for which a person needs antibiotics and painkillers. Or it may be because they suffer from two different diseases at the same time, such as high blood pressure and arthritis, for which they need antihypertensives and anti-inflammatories.