Too much of anything can be bad for you.
Elderly people tend to take more medications for chronic illnesses, and a recent study shows that raises the risk of an early death.
This is especially true when many drugs are taken together when they shouldn't be.
Eum Ji-young reports.
Taking multiple drugs at once may lead to a higher mortality risk.
According to a recent report by the National Health Insurance Corporation, about half of people in South Korea who are 65 years or older consume more than five different medications every day.
Six percent were found to be taking more than eleven.
The same study shows seniors taking five or more kinds of drugs at once have a 25 percent higher mortality risk than those who take fewer.
And for those taking more than eleven a day, it was 54 percent higher than those who take the fewest.
An expert says, because pharmacies and hospitals are easily accessible in South Korea, patients are more likely to end up taking multiple medications at once.
"When multiple drugs are prescribed inappropriately, they can interact with each other and cause unexpected side effects. It's especially dangerous for elderly patients when they take many at once. The concentration of different medications in the body is higher for seniors because people's metabolic function slows down as they age."
He added that it's important for patients to consult with experts before they consume any medication.
To prevent such side effects, the National Health Insurance Corporation is running a pilot project for the elderly.
Doctors and pharmacists will visit patients who might be at risk and check what they are being prescribed.
The service is being provided to those taking more than ten different medications a day and for those with one of 13 designated conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.
Eum Ji-young, Arirang News.