Side effects of drugs are often misdiagnosed as symptoms of another medical condition, and the result is that patients are prescribed more drugs to treat adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Prescribing cascades contribute to polypharmacy, which has several associated risks, such as drug interactions, increased frequency or severity of side effects and poor medication adherence. They can also exacerbate the harmful effects of unrecognized ADRs, impact a patient’s quality of life and lead to avoidable hospital admissions and health system costs. Health practitioners should always investigate the possibility of an ADR presenting itself as a new symptom, especially in older adults, and avoid prescribing additional drug treatment until this possibility has been thoroughly investigated.
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