Which topic is listed under LTC Drug Problems?

• A. Drug effects
• B. Polypharmacy
• C. Disorientation
• D. Adverse reactions

Answer: (B)

In long-term care, a major drug-related issue is polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications by a resident. When someone, especially an older adult, is taking many prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements, the risk of drug interactions, duplications, and cumulative side effects climbs. This can lead to problems like confusion, falls, poor appetite, and other health issues, so care teams regularly review medication lists to streamline regimens and minimize unnecessary medicines. Among the given topics, polypharmacy directly captures the LTC drug-problem challenge of managing multiple drugs, which is why it’s the best choice. Drug effects describe what medications do in general, disorientation can be a symptom that medications might cause, and adverse reactions are harmful effects from drugs themselves, but polypharmacy specifically identifies the overarching issue of multiple medications in the long-term care setting.