Deprescribing is the systematic process of identifying and discontinuing potentially inappropriate drugs with the aim of minimising polypharmacy and improving patient outcomes.
Broadly speaking, it follows five steps:
consider the person
consider their medications
identify potential drugs to be ceased or modified
plan and initiate withdrawal trial
monitor and support.
Resources
Primary Health Tasmania has supported the development of a range of deprescribing resources, including fact sheets on medications such as antipsychotics, opioids and glaucoma eye drops.
Primary Health Tasmania has also produced a series of short videos featuring discussion between geriatrician Dr David Dunbabin, GP Dr Amanda Lo and consultant pharmacist Dr Peter Tenni about the deprescribing cycle.
