Market reference note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is labeled 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the text to indicate which country it applies to.
The sight of a pile of pill packets stacked on one corner of the dining table is probably all too familiar. When you add up blood pressure medication, diabetes medication, joint medication, sleep aids, and stomach medicine, it is easy to exceed ten pills a day. It is the reality that prescriptions grow alongside each new chronic condition, but many family caregivers do not yet realize that taking multiple medications simultaneously can itself become a new health threat.
🇰🇷 Korea According to an analysis using National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험) big data, adults aged 65 and older who take 5 or more medications simultaneously face an 18% higher risk of hospitalization and a 25% higher risk of death compared to those taking 4 or fewer. Among those taking 11 or more medications, those figures rise to 45% and 54%, respectively. 🇰🇷 Korea According to 2022 National Assembly audit data, 1.13 million people have been taking 10 or more types of medication continuously for more than two months, and 900,000 of them are adults aged 65 and older. Geriatric medicine specialists estimate that when 10 or more medications are taken simultaneously, the likelihood of experiencing at least one adverse effect approaches nearly 100%.
🇰🇷 Korea An even more striking figure emerges from international comparisons. As of 2019, 70.2% of domestic patients aged 75 and older had been taking 5 or more prescription drugs for 3 months — far exceeding the OECD average of 48.3%. An expert at Seoul National University Hospital's Drug Safety Center (서울대병원 약물안전센터) points out that over-the-counter medications, health functional foods, and herbal medicines are not even included in these statistics. This means actual consumption may be considerably higher than the numbers suggest. 🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States as well, the rate of polypharmacy (5 or more medications) among adults aged 65 and older is reported at approximately 43%, and because of the physical changes that come with aging, older adults have a reduced ability to metabolize and eliminate medications, making them more susceptible to adverse effects at the same doses compared to younger people.
What happens when multiple medications interact inside the body at the same time? Drug-drug interactions, duplicate prescriptions, increased risk of falls, cognitive decline, and delirium are among the well-known adverse effects. In particular, when a person visits multiple clinics and receives prescriptions from different physicians, medications of the same class can be duplicated, or medications that conflict with each other can be prescribed together. If your parent has suddenly been experiencing dizziness, unexplained stomach discomfort, or more frequent falls, it is worth taking a closer look at the medications they are taking.
🇰🇷 Korea Fortunately, institutional support is available. The National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) operates a 다제약물 관리사업 (Polypharmacy Management Program) for enrollees who have at least one chronic condition and are continuously taking 10 or more medication ingredients over a six-month period. Medical professionals including physicians, pharmacists, and nurses visit the home or conduct consultations at pharmacies or by phone to review medications and provide personalized counseling for up to 4 sessions. As of 2024, the number of participants has grown to approximately 1.37 million, and inquiries can be made through the National Health Insurance Service customer center (1577-1000). In addition, the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (한국보건의료연구원, NECA) published a 탈처방 가이드라인 (Deprescribing Guideline) in 2024 for the gradual reduction of unnecessary medications in elderly patients, providing on-the-ground clinical guidance.
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, anyone enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan can use the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program free of charge. Members who have 3 or more chronic conditions and are taking Part D maintenance medications are automatically enrolled when they meet the eligibility criteria. A specialized pharmacist conducts a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) once a year and a Targeted Medication Review (TMR) each quarter to check for interactions, adverse effects, and duplicate prescriptions. Participation is entirely voluntary and there is no additional cost.
As a family caregiver, there are things you can do right now. First, compile a single list of everything your parent takes — prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and health functional foods. Second, always show this list to the physician at any new hospital or specialty clinic visit. Third, when a new symptom appears, check with the attending physician or pharmacist first to determine whether it stems from a new condition or is a side effect of an existing medication. One small habit can be the first step toward breaking the chain of unnecessary prescriptions.
Sources: National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) 다제약물 관리사업 guide (건강보험 돋보기, May 2023); BioTimes '고령층 다제약물 복용, 부작용 발생 가능성 100%' (November 2023); Seoul National University Hospital Drug Safety Center (서울대병원 약물안전센터) press release; National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (한국보건의료연구원, NECA) '고령 환자의 다약제 사용 예방을 위한 탈처방 가이드라인 개발' (May 2024); 약사공론 '다제약물관리 공식 지침 나왔다' (May 2026); 더지지뉴스 '노인 다제약물 70% 시대' (May 2026); 뉴스핌 '다제약물 관리로 사망·입원 낮춘다' (May 2026); NCOA 'Medication Therapy Management in Medicare Part D' (December 2025); CMS 'Medication Therapy Management' official guidance; ACOFP Journal 'Clinical Management of Polypharmacy in the Elderly Population' (Summer 2023); StatPearls 'Strategies to Reduce Polypharmacy in Older Adults' (August 2024).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.