Polypharmacy is a term that means using a number of different drugs to treat one or many health problems.

Polypharmacy is not a problem if your health care team knows about every prescription medication, over-the-counter medication and herbal/natural supplement that you are taking. If you are seeing more than one doctor or health care provider, be sure to tell them about every medication, vitamin, or herbal supplement that you are taking so they can set up an appropriate treatment plan to avoid harmful side effects.

Certain medications, including herbal supplements, can have adverse effects on both blood sugar levels and overall health.

Herbal products are termed natural because they come from a natural source. Keep in mind however, that they still have side effects and can interfere with prescription medications. It is important to check with a member of your health care team before starting any new medication or herbal supplement to avoid adverse medication interactions and potential problems.