Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: the process of deprescribing.
Scott IA, Hilmer SN, Reeve E, et al. Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: the process of deprescribing. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(5):827-34. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.0324.
Polypharmacy in older patients is a predictor of medication errors. However, deprescribing—stopping or reducing medicines in a patient's drug regimen—can introduce opportunities for harm if not done appropriately. This commentary presents a protocol to enhance the safety of deprescribing by considering the medication therapy needs of each individual patient.