Deprescribing interventions appear to be feasible and safe for reducing medication burden in older adults, though evidence on clinical outcomes remains mixed.
Deprescribing in older adults is feasible and safe, but further research is needed to identify optimal approaches and overcome implementation barriers.
Older adults commonly end up on many medications. Deprescribing is an important part of individualizing care for older adults. It is an opportunity to discuss treatment options and revisit medications that may not have been reassessed in many years. A large evidence base exists in the field, suggesting that deprescribing is feasible and safe, though questions remain about the potential clinical benefits. Deprescribing research faces a myriad of challenges, such as identifying and employing the optimal outcome measures. Further, there is uncertainty about which deprescribing approaches are likely to be most effective and in what contexts. Evidence on barriers and facilitators to deprescribing has underscored how deprescribing in routine clinical practice can be complex and challenging. Thus, finding practical, sustainable ways to implement deprescribing is a priority for future research in the field.
Thompson et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Polypharmacy. Deprescribing vs. Continuation of medications was evaluated. Deprescribing interventions appear to be feasible and safe for reducing medication burden in older adults, though evidence on clinical outcomes remains mixed.