Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications or more than medically necessary, is a growing concern among older adults. It is common in nursing home residents and affects nearly half of older adults, who take one or more unnecessary medications. Research shows a strong link between polypharmacy and negative clinical outcomes, including increased healthcare costs, adverse drug events (ADEs), drug interactions, medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity, and geriatric syndromes. Polypharmacy also increases the risk of falls, urinary incontinence, and cognitive impairment. Studies indicate that older adults taking more medications are at higher risk for adverse outcomes. For example, those taking five or more medications have a higher risk of ADEs, while those taking 9 or more medications have twice the risk of ADEs compared to those taking fewer medications. Polypharmacy is also associated with increased falls, with each additional medication increasing the risk of falling by 7% within 30 days. Evidence suggests that inter-professional interventions, often involving clinical pharmacists, can improve medication use and reduce unnecessary drug use. Randomized controlled trials have shown that such interventions can lead to significant reductions in the number of unnecessary medications. For instance, a study found that patients in an intervention group had a 0.5 reduction in unnecessary medications at discharge compared to a control group. Another study showed a 46.9% reduction in unnecessary drug use in the intervention group compared to 6.6% in the control group. Despite these findings, polypharmacy remains a significant issue, with many older adults taking multiple medications. Future research is needed to develop and evaluate new interventions to reduce unnecessary drug use, particularly in patients with extreme polypharmacy (20 or more medications). The need for improved prescribing practices and better management of polypharmacy is critical to improving health outcomes in older adults.Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications or more than medically necessary, is a growing concern among older adults. It is common in nursing home residents and affects nearly half of older adults, who take one or more unnecessary medications. Research shows a strong link between polypharmacy and negative clinical outcomes, including increased healthcare costs, adverse drug events (ADEs), drug interactions, medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity, and geriatric syndromes. Polypharmacy also increases the risk of falls, urinary incontinence, and cognitive impairment. Studies indicate that older adults taking more medications are at higher risk for adverse outcomes. For example, those taking five or more medications have a higher risk of ADEs, while those taking 9 or more medications have twice the risk of ADEs compared to those taking fewer medications. Polypharmacy is also associated with increased falls, with each additional medication increasing the risk of falling by 7% within 30 days. Evidence suggests that inter-professional interventions, often involving clinical pharmacists, can improve medication use and reduce unnecessary drug use. Randomized controlled trials have shown that such interventions can lead to significant reductions in the number of unnecessary medications. For instance, a study found that patients in an intervention group had a 0.5 reduction in unnecessary medications at discharge compared to a control group. Another study showed a 46.9% reduction in unnecessary drug use in the intervention group compared to 6.6% in the control group. Despite these findings, polypharmacy remains a significant issue, with many older adults taking multiple medications. Future research is needed to develop and evaluate new interventions to reduce unnecessary drug use, particularly in patients with extreme polypharmacy (20 or more medications). The need for improved prescribing practices and better management of polypharmacy is critical to improving health outcomes in older adults.