Home / Health / Polypharmacy Nightmare: Woman Prescribed 33 Psychiatric Drugs Over 7 Years
Polypharmacy Nightmare: Woman Prescribed 33 Psychiatric Drugs Over 7 Years
19 Aug
Summary
- Prescribed 33 psychiatric medications over 7 years
- Experienced severe side effects like sexual dysfunction and dizziness
- Doctors failed to recognize the drugs as the root cause of her problems
In 2018, a woman named Wield began taking a simple antidepressant, but this led to suicidal thoughts - a known risk with some SSRI medications. After a hospital stay, Wield was then prescribed dozens of drug cocktails, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and sleeping pills. Over the next 7 years, her prescription records show she was given 33 different psychiatric medications.
The side effects of these drugs left Wield barely able to function. She experienced weight gain, constipation, dizziness, and even head injuries due to a condition called postural hypertension. Wield also lost her sexual function and felt constantly numb, but doctors dismissed these as symptoms of her depression rather than side effects of the medications.
Wield's case highlights the growing problem of polypharmacy - when patients are prescribed more than 5 different medications at once. Studies have linked this practice to increased hospitalization, adverse reactions, falls, and reduced quality of life. Experts say the issue could be costing the NHS up to £2 billion per year.
