Appropriate polypharmacy is present when:

1. All drugs are prescribed for the purpose of achieving specific therapeutic objectives that have been agreed with the individual
2. Therapeutic objectives are actually being achieved or there is a reasonable chance they will be achieved in the future
3. Medication has been optimised to minimise the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) 
4. The individual is motivated and able to take all medicines as intended.

Inappropriate polypharmacy is present when one or more medicines are prescribed that are not or no longer needed, either because:

1. There is no evidence-based indication, the indication has expired, or the dose is unnecessarily high
2. One or more medicines fail to achieve the therapeutic objectives they are intended to achieve
3. One, or the combination of several medicines cause unacceptable adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or put the individual at an unacceptably high risk of such ADRs
4. They are not willing or able to take one or more medicines as intended.