Definition
In a medication analysis, the medications that a patient is using are reviewed by a healthcare professional for various aspects. The objectives of the analysis include the following:
- Optimization of therapy and use, improvement of health status.
- Avoidance of adverse effects and drug-drug interactions.
- Increasing adherence to therapy
- Discontinuation of unnecessary medication
- Recognizing risks
- Cost reduction, for example through the use of generics and biosimilars.
The analysis is done in a personal conversation with the patient. If this is not possible, it can also be carried out with the consent of a trusted person. Regarding the number of drugs and the duration of therapy, there are no restrictions. However, the analyses tend to be recommended to patients who need to use multiple medications for a longer duration.