Deprescribing medications: A safer approach to senior care
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Sometimes the hardest choices about health aren’t about starting something new but deciding what no longer needs to continue.
Many older adults find themselves juggling bottles of pills, managing complex schedules, and wondering if all of it is still necessary.
Families often feel overwhelmed as they try to keep track of prescriptions from multiple doctors, not always knowing which ones remain essential.
This is where a growing practice is starting to spark conversations about safer, smarter ways to age well.
For seniors, polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications—has become a common reality, with nearly 40% of adults over 65 taking five or more prescriptions.
While these treatments may address chronic conditions, they also raise the risks of side effects, drug interactions, and even hospitalization.
Pharmacist Allison L. Hill of the American Pharmacists Association warns that “each prescription carries its own set of potential risks, and when combined with others, those risks multiply.”
This has pushed health experts to ask an important question: do all older adults truly need every medication they’re on?
Deprescribing, the process of reducing or stopping unnecessary medications, is one answer gaining traction.
By carefully working with health care providers, seniors can lower their medication burden, avoid harmful interactions, and reduce costs.
Dr. Elisabeth Fowlie Mock of the American Academy of Family Physicians explains, “Over time and with advancing age, some medications become too strong or too dangerous.”
“Many medications, however, should not be stopped cold turkey because the body needs to slowly adjust to a lower dose.” The key is close medical guidance to ensure safety while simplifying routines.
Polypharmacy often results from multiple conditions, multiple prescribers, and age-related changes in how the body processes drugs.
Inappropriate combinations can lead to cognitive decline, falls, or worsening of other illnesses. Families also face practical challenges: organizing complex schedules, affording higher costs, and constantly managing refills.
Also read: Are you taking these two common medications? Here’s why they could be deadly when combined!
Deprescribing not only reduces health risks but also eases this daily burden, creating more stability and confidence in care.
The deprescribing process usually begins with a comprehensive medical review, where providers examine all medications and weigh benefits against risks.
High-risk prescriptions or those no longer offering value are prioritized for tapering or discontinuation. From there, a plan is created with input from patients and caregivers, including timelines, symptom monitoring, and gradual dose adjustments.
Ongoing communication with providers ensures any withdrawal symptoms or returning conditions are handled safely. Some medications can be stopped quickly, but many require tapering to prevent rebound effects or withdrawal symptoms.
“The decision to stop taking a medication right away or to taper is determined by several factors and can look different for each person,” Mock said.
Also read: A 30-year wait ends: New antibiotic offers relief for millions struggling with UTIs
Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or insomnia can appear when dosages are reduced too quickly, making it crucial to follow a structured plan. Tapering improves long-term success, minimizes side effects, and helps the body adjust without added stress.
Ultimately, deprescribing is about more than just stopping pills—it’s about improving quality of life. By reducing unnecessary medications, older adults may sleep better, feel stronger, and lower their chances of dangerous drug interactions.
With Medicare offering free Medication Therapy Management reviews, seniors and caregivers have resources to support this transition.
Taking the time to reassess medications can mean fewer risks, less confusion, and a healthier, more sustainable approach to aging.
Read next: Common painkillers could be making antibiotics less effective, scientists warn
Do you think doctors and patients talk enough about when it’s time to reduce medications, or is this conversation still overlooked? Share your perspective in the comments and join the discussion.
Many older adults find themselves juggling bottles of pills, managing complex schedules, and wondering if all of it is still necessary.
Families often feel overwhelmed as they try to keep track of prescriptions from multiple doctors, not always knowing which ones remain essential.
This is where a growing practice is starting to spark conversations about safer, smarter ways to age well.
For seniors, polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications—has become a common reality, with nearly 40% of adults over 65 taking five or more prescriptions.
While these treatments may address chronic conditions, they also raise the risks of side effects, drug interactions, and even hospitalization.
Pharmacist Allison L. Hill of the American Pharmacists Association warns that “each prescription carries its own set of potential risks, and when combined with others, those risks multiply.”
This has pushed health experts to ask an important question: do all older adults truly need every medication they’re on?
Deprescribing, the process of reducing or stopping unnecessary medications, is one answer gaining traction.
By carefully working with health care providers, seniors can lower their medication burden, avoid harmful interactions, and reduce costs.
Dr. Elisabeth Fowlie Mock of the American Academy of Family Physicians explains, “Over time and with advancing age, some medications become too strong or too dangerous.”
“Many medications, however, should not be stopped cold turkey because the body needs to slowly adjust to a lower dose.” The key is close medical guidance to ensure safety while simplifying routines.
Polypharmacy often results from multiple conditions, multiple prescribers, and age-related changes in how the body processes drugs.
Inappropriate combinations can lead to cognitive decline, falls, or worsening of other illnesses. Families also face practical challenges: organizing complex schedules, affording higher costs, and constantly managing refills.
Also read: Are you taking these two common medications? Here’s why they could be deadly when combined!
Deprescribing not only reduces health risks but also eases this daily burden, creating more stability and confidence in care.
The deprescribing process usually begins with a comprehensive medical review, where providers examine all medications and weigh benefits against risks.
High-risk prescriptions or those no longer offering value are prioritized for tapering or discontinuation. From there, a plan is created with input from patients and caregivers, including timelines, symptom monitoring, and gradual dose adjustments.
Ongoing communication with providers ensures any withdrawal symptoms or returning conditions are handled safely. Some medications can be stopped quickly, but many require tapering to prevent rebound effects or withdrawal symptoms.
“The decision to stop taking a medication right away or to taper is determined by several factors and can look different for each person,” Mock said.
Also read: A 30-year wait ends: New antibiotic offers relief for millions struggling with UTIs
Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or insomnia can appear when dosages are reduced too quickly, making it crucial to follow a structured plan. Tapering improves long-term success, minimizes side effects, and helps the body adjust without added stress.
Ultimately, deprescribing is about more than just stopping pills—it’s about improving quality of life. By reducing unnecessary medications, older adults may sleep better, feel stronger, and lower their chances of dangerous drug interactions.
With Medicare offering free Medication Therapy Management reviews, seniors and caregivers have resources to support this transition.
Taking the time to reassess medications can mean fewer risks, less confusion, and a healthier, more sustainable approach to aging.
Read next: Common painkillers could be making antibiotics less effective, scientists warn
