What is Polymedication?
Polymedication is defined as a daily intake of 3 or more medications and in older patients and patients with multiple chronic conditions, one or more medications are prescribed for each condition. This can include taking medications than directed or are unnecessary. Excessive medication use in this instance could mean frequency, dosage, unintentional overuse, intentional misuse, or abuse.
Adverse Effects
Patients suffering from long term, chronic conditions are often required to take multiple medications which may have undesirable effects in combination. Examples may include persons suffering from chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues.
The interaction of multiple medication use can have adverse outcomes. These include mortality, falls, adverse drug reactions, increased hospitalizations,
Frequently, patients with chronic pain and headaches conceal drug use and develop psychological problems.
In addition, many chronic pain patients become addicted to Opioid based pain killers.
Polymedication and Long Term Disability
Unfortunately, over time, many patients are unable to cope and they become seriously disabled. Addictions and side effects from medications can cause disability or exacerbation of their underlying condition.
For instance, many anti-depressant medications cause significant weight gain and related health issues.
Most disability policies do not exclude such disabilities. Many people are under a misapprehension that a disability must flow from an accident. They fail to make a claim or miss the opportunity for disability benefits.
Get Help
At Himelfarb, Proszanski, we have extensive experience in disability contracts and litigation. At the initial meeting, we will go over your policy with you. In particular, the definitions section which outlines what constitutes a disability under the contract.
A disability from polymedication would be a valid claim unless it is expressly excluded under the policy.
Frequently, disability insurers search for any reason to deny a claim. You should not be discouraged and give up. Our initial contact is free of charge and we will accept disability claims on a contingency basis. We can help.