The research shows how almost 4 out of 10 (38%) over 65s in Britain are currently taking over five medicines at any one time.
However, a staggering six out of 10 (62%) over 65s believe they either definitely, or possibly, have had a side effect from a medicine – yet one in four said that they did not get it checked out.
Other findings of the research revealed that almost one in 10 (8%) admit to not fully understanding what their medications do or how they treat their condition, and one in seven (14%) say they sometimes forget to take a pill at the recommended time.
In response, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society are launching a campaign to encourage older people and those with long term medical conditions to visit their pharmacy to reassess their medication in a Medicines Use Review (MUR). An MUR is a service that can be provided by a community pharmacist on an annual basis to a patient on one or more medicines and/or long term conditions.