Provider Information
Medication review with an eye to reducing or stopping potentially inappropriate medications is vital in caring for older adults
Deprescribing involves stopping or reducing medications that are no longer beneficial. Deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications is always good clinical practice, but it is especially important for older adults.
The boxes below provide links to downloadable deprescribing algorithms to help you decide whether to reduce or stop certain anticholinergics, sedative-hypnotics and antipsychotics. Downloadable tapering guides are provided for sedative-hypnotics and antipsychotics to help your patients to track their dose reductions and reduce safely. This page also includes links to downloadable patient educational materials and questions your patients may ask about their medications.
What Doctors Are Saying
“The potential harms of some medications may outweigh their benefits over time. I carefully weigh the benefits and risks of all the medications my patients are taking each time I see them, and discuss reducing or stopping those that may no longer be appropriate. Having these conversations with my patients and their families is among the most important things I do as a doctor.”
