Weekly Wellness Report #2 -The Prescribing Cascade

A new large study published in The BMJ on September 10, 2026 examined how one medication can lead to another—sometimes unnecessarily.

This is called a “prescribing cascade.” It happens when:

A medication produces a side effect.

The side effect is mistaken for a new medical condition.

A second medication is prescribed to treat it.

That medication may introduce additional risks or side effects.

For example, an NSAID used for pain may raise someone’s blood pressure. Instead of reconsidering the NSAID, a blood-pressure medication might be added.

Researchers began with 65 potential prescribing cascades identified by 12 specialists in geriatrics, internal medicine, and clinical pharmacology. They then compared these with population-level prescription data from Ontario and identified 24 high-priority cascades that were relatively common and potentially harmful. Older adults—and especially people taking numerous medications—may face the greatest risk. University of Toronto’s study summary

*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician