Men Driving Rise in Polypharmacy: What the Latest Study Reveals

Research tracking polypharmacy—people regularly taking five or more medications—found an increase in multiple medicine use during the past decade, largely driven by a growth among men. Ph.D. student Georgie Lee, from The University of Western Australia's School of Health and Medical Sciences, was lead author of the study published in Drugs & Aging, which examined polypharmacy among men and women across different age groups in Australia between 2013 and 2024 and found an increase from 8% to 9.2%. "In 2024, nearly two million Australians had polypharmacy, with 30% of those aged 65 years or older and 3.4% of those under 65 years regularly taking five or more medicines," Lee said. "Taking several medicines can increase the risk of side effects, harmful interactions and hospital visits." The study found the increase in polypharmacy, which was previously most common among women, appeared to be largely driven by growth among men, while prevalence remained relatively stable among women. Older adults continued to account for most polypharmacy in the population (about 70%), but a rise in cases among younger and middle-aged adults suggested they were starting to take multiple medicines earlier in life. Senior author Dr. Amy Page, from UWA's Center for Optimization of Medicines, said being aware of the trends could help consumers understand the importance of regular medication reviews. "People need to ask questions about their own prescriptions and have informed conversations with their health care providers," Dr. Page said. "Clinicians and policymakers can also use this information to tailor care and develop and evaluate targeted strategies that reduce risks. Ultimately, understanding who is most 'at risk' helps Australians use medicines more safely throughout life." The results highlight the need for regular reviews to ensure treatments remain safe and appropriate over time. "Stabilizing or declining polypharmacy among older women may be promising, but fewer medicines do not automatically mean better care," Lee said.