Complete the following by using the list of options. _______ is the use of multiple medications that can increase the risk of drug interactions and increase the risk for an adverse event.

A. Polypharmacy: Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, particularly common in older adults with multiple chronic conditions. It increases the risk of drug interactions, adverse effects, and medication nonadherence, making careful monitoring essential. B. Medical reconciliation: Medication reconciliation is the process of verifying and updating a patient’s medication list during transitions of care to prevent errors. While it helps reduce risks, it is not the definition of using multiple medications. C. Drug toxicity: Drug toxicity occurs when a medication reaches harmful levels in the body, often due to overdose or impaired metabolism. It can be a consequence of polypharmacy but is not synonymous with it. D. Adverse drug reaction: An adverse drug reaction is an unwanted or harmful effect caused by a medication at normal doses. It may result from polypharmacy, but the term specifically describes the reaction, not the practice of taking multiple drugs.