Deprescribing is an active process of tapering, withdrawing, discontinuing or stopping a medication that has been assessed to be no longer needed, ineffective, inappropriate or unsafe for the patient.
The goal of deprescribing is to to reduce polypharmacy, medication burden, the risk of adverse drug reactions, medication waste and to improve or maintain quality of life for the patient.
Deprescribing is an important element of medicines optimisation and forms part of a comprehensive medication review to identify the point at which drugs are no longer providing a worthwhile benefit and may actually be causing harm. This is of particular worth in frail or elderly patients with multiple morbidities and associated reduced physiological reserve.
Further information can be found in the below SPPG supplement or websites:
- A Guide to Support Medication Review in Older People by Pharmacy Forum NI
- Polypharmacy guidance from NHS Scotland
- PrescQIPP Polypharmacy and deprescribing