Which process involves tapering or stopping unnecessary medications?

Which process involves tapering or stopping unnecessary medications?

• A. Deprescribing
• B. Polypharmacy
• C. Beers Criteria
• D. ADR

Answer: (A)

Deprescribing is the deliberate, patient-centered process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer needed or may cause harm. In older adults, this approach aims to minimize drug-related risks while keeping or improving symptom control and quality of life. It starts with a comprehensive medication review, identifying medications that are duplicative, ineffective, or not aligned with the patient’s goals of care, and then developing a structured plan to taper or discontinue each one. A careful taper schedule and close monitoring are essential to catch withdrawal effects, symptom recurrence, or destabilization, with adjustments made as needed. This process often involves shared decision-making with the patient and the care team, consideration of nonpharmacologic alternatives, and ongoing follow-up. Polypharmacy refers to taking many medications, which increases the risk of interactions and adverse effects, but it is not a method for reducing meds. Beers Criteria is a guideline that helps identify potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, not a process of stopping meds. ADR stands for adverse drug reaction, which is an unwanted effect of a drug, not the act of tapering or stopping medications.

Deprescribing is the deliberate, patient-centered process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer needed or may cause harm. In older adults, this approach aims to minimize drug-related risks while keeping or improving symptom control and quality of life. It starts with a comprehensive medication review, identifying medications that are duplicative, ineffective, or not aligned with the patient’s goals of care, and then developing a structured plan to taper or discontinue each one. A careful taper schedule and close monitoring are essential to catch withdrawal effects, symptom recurrence, or destabilization, with adjustments made as needed. This process often involves shared decision-making with the patient and the care team, consideration of nonpharmacologic alternatives, and ongoing follow-up.

Polypharmacy refers to taking many medications, which increases the risk of interactions and adverse effects, but it is not a method for reducing meds. Beers Criteria is a guideline that helps identify potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, not a process of stopping meds. ADR stands for adverse drug reaction, which is an unwanted effect of a drug, not the act of tapering or stopping medications.