Deprescribing and its non-inferiority complex

When considering medication deprescribing—reducing or discontinuing a treatment when the risks exceed the benefits in terms of an individual’s goals, values, and preferences—an often overlooked principle is that lessening the medication burden does not necessarily result in superior efficacy for disease-related outcomes. Instead, even if deprescribing does not affect standard clinical outcomes, it can offer other important benefits, including an improved quality of life, reduced potential for future adverse drug reactions, and decreased costs.