AHRQ Patient Safety Network ► Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: the process of deprescribing.

AHRQ Patient Safety Network



Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy: the process of deprescribing.

Scott IA, Hilmer SN, Reeve E, et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Mar 23; [Epub ahead of print].

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.

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