People taking five or more medicines a day increases 250%

Irish people are taking more prescription medicine than ever before — with a 250% increase in the number of people taking five or more medications in just 15 years.

The study from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Department of General Practice found that people in Ireland are taking more prescribed medications now than they were 18 years ago.

However, the research also revealed that, despite this increase, the quality of prescribing medications in Ireland has improved with a marked 60% decreased risk associated with prescribing drugs in older people.