The Deprescribing Conversation Most Patients Are Waiting For
Stopping a medication is often harder than starting one. A simple framework for older adults on too many drugs.
Polypharmacy rarely happens by design. It accumulates, one reasonable prescription at a time, across multiple specialists and many years. By the time a patient reaches their late seventies, the list may no longer reflect their goals.
Start with goals, not the list
The most effective deprescribing conversations begin with what the patient wants from the next few years. From there, each medication can be weighed against those goals, and tapering plans can be built with the patient rather than for them.
Many patients have been quietly hoping someone would ask.
Dr. Whitfield is a family physician and practice owner who writes about independent medicine and physician leadership.
This article is for professional education and does not replace clinical judgment. Treatment decisions should be based on the individual patient and current guidelines.
