Deprescribing - It’s a Thing

Are your patients, especially older adults, taking a cocktail of medications? This Dynamic Chiropractic article shines a light on "deprescribing" – a planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be necessary or could be causing harm. The article points out that many individuals, particularly seniors, continue taking drugs without regular review, leading to polypharmacy, which is associated with poor health outcomes. It's alarming that the term "deprescribing" was only coined in 2003, highlighting a historically prescription-focused medical model. Encouragingly, research indicates benefits from deprescribing certain medications like antihypertensives, potentially lessening cognitive decline in dementia patients. While chiropractic doesn't involve prescribing drugs, the article empowers chiropractors to play a vital role by simply asking patients about medication reviews with their medical providers. This simple question can encourage patients and their doctors to reconsider the necessity of their current drug regimens, potentially leading to improved health and well-being.