Abstract

MARTINS, Ivone dos Santos. Deprescribing in the Elderly. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.1, pp.66-69. ISSN 2182-5173.

In elderly patients, the risks associated with polypharmacy are due to drug interactions, adverse effects, and poor compliance with complex treatment plans, leading to worsening of underlying conditions. Deprescribing is the cessation of therapy supervised by a clinician. Drugs that should be considered for cessation are those responsible for side effects, those not clinically indicated, drugs used to treat side effects of another drug that has already been stopped, or drugs used for the treatment of a situation that has resolved. There are few studies of the best method of deprescribing. The decision to stop a drug arises from the balance between therapeutic goals and the risk/benefit ratio of treatment.

Keywords : Polypharmacy; Aged; Inappropriate Prescribing.

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