title: Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: the process of deprescribing.
abstract: Inappropriate polypharmacy, especially in older people, imposes a substantial burden of adverse drug events, ill health, disability, hospitalization, and even death. The single most important predictor of inappropriate prescribing and risk of adverse drug events in older patients is the number of prescribed drugs. Deprescribing is the process of tapering or stopping drugs, aimed at minimizing polypharmacy and improving patient outcomes. Evidence of efficacy for deprescribing is emerging from randomized trials and observational studies. A deprescribing protocol is proposed comprising 5 steps: (1) ascertain all drugs the patient is currently taking and the reasons for each one; (2) consider overall risk of drug-induced harm in individual patients in determining the required intensity of deprescribing intervention; (3) assess each drug in regard to its current or future benefit potential compared with current or future harm or burden potential; (4) prioritize drugs for discontinuation that have the lowest benefit-harm ratio and lowest likelihood of adverse withdrawal reactions or disease rebound syndromes; and (5) implement a discontinuation regimen and monitor patients closely for improvement in outcomes or onset of adverse effects. Whereas patient and prescriber barriers to deprescribing exist, resources and strategies are available that facilitate deliberate yet judicious deprescribing and deserve wider application.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia2School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Ian A
authors: IA
authors: Scott
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia4Kolling Institute of Medical Research, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Sarah N
authors: SN
authors: Hilmer
authors: Kolling Institute of Medical Research, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia5Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney Australia.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Reeve
authors: Western Australia Centre for Health and Aging, Perth, Australia.
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Potter
authors: Ageing and Alzheimers Institute, Concord Hospital and Sydney Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Le Couteur
authors: National Prescribing Service MedicineWise, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia9School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Rigby
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Danijela
authors: D
authors: Gnjidic
authors: Centre for Research in Evidence-based Practice, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors: Christopher B
authors: CB
authors: Del Mar
authors: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
authors: Elizabeth E
authors: EE
authors: Roughead
authors: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Page
authors: Screening and Test Evaluation Program (STEP), Sydney School of Public Health, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Jesse
authors: J
authors: Jansen
authors: PA-Southside Clinical School, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Jennifer H
authors: JH
authors: Martin
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D003144:Communication Barriers; D004347:Drug Interactions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000592:standards*