De-Prescribing

Question 1

What does it mean to deprescribe a drug? When do we do it?

Answer 1

• Deprescription is when a drug is discontinued in a patient
• Indicated when risks of taking the drug now outweigh the therapeutic benefit, all things considered

Question 2

Deprescription algorithm

Answer 2

• Look at all drugs currently being used
• Determine how much drug each could be causing
• Determine which drugs can be deprescribed (long-term preventatives, outdated symptomatic relief/toxic ones)
• Prioritise drugs for discontinuation
• Deprescribe