🩺 Deprescribing: Making Medications Safer as We Age
Deprescribing means reducing or stopping medicines that may no longer be needed, or that could be causing more harm than good. It’s not about taking away care — it’s about tailoring your treatment plan to most effectively promote your quality of life while keeping you safe, comfortable, and healthy at home.
Why Stop Some Medications?
As we age, our bodies change, and our ability to process medications change. Some medications may build up in your body and cause side effects that take away from your quality of life. Some medicines may no longer be needed. Some medications may cause side effects such as dizziness, confusion, and increase risk of falls and injury.
Benefits of Deprescribing.
✅ Fewer side effects
✅ Better memory and thinking
✅ Lower risk of falls and hospital visits
✅ Less pill burden — fewer bottles to manage
✅ Improved overall quality of life
How Does Deprescribing Work?
- Review: Your nurse practitioner or doctor looks at all your medicines (prescribed, over-the-counter, vitamins, supplements).
- Decide Together: You, your family, and your provider talk about which medicines are still helpful and which might be stopped.
- Go Slow: Some medicines must be stopped gradually, not all at once.
- Check In: Your provider will follow up to make sure you’re doing well.
Common Medicines That May Be Reduced
- Sleeping pills (like benzodiazepines)
- Medicines for heartburn (PPIs)
- Some pain medicines (opioids)
- Certain diabetes medicines (to prevent low blood sugar)
- Medications that affect memory or cause confusion
(This doesn’t mean these are unsafe for everyone — just that they may need review.)
What You Can Do
💬 Ask questions: “Do I still need this medicine?”
📋 Bring a full list: Include prescriptions, vitamins, herbs, and over-the-counter drugs.
👨👩👧 Involve family/caregivers: They can help keep track and support you.
🩺 Follow up: Never stop a medicine on your own — always do it with your provider’s guidance.
✨ Remember: Deprescribing is about making sure every medicine you take is truly helping you. It’s a step toward safer, healthier aging.
Rodeynurse August 2025
