Final answer:
The correct term for a patient taking several prescription medications daily is polypharmacy, which is particularly common among elderly patients and requires careful management by healthcare providers to prevent adverse effects and drug interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient takes several prescription drugs daily, it is known as polypharmacy. This term is used especially in the context of elderly patients who often require multiple medications to manage a variety of chronic conditions. In the scenario described, where a pharmacist is obtaining a patient history and notes multiple medications, the correct answer is B. polypharmacy.
Polypharmacy can have implications for patient care, including potential drug interactions and the challenges of managing complex medication regimens. It is important for healthcare providers to regularly review a patient's medication list to optimize therapy and reduce the risk of adverse effects.