When you think of treatment, you probably think of adding something—a new pill, a higher dose, another specialist. But deprescribing, the intentional process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer needed or may be doing more harm than good. Also known as medication reduction, it's a quiet revolution in how we think about long-term care. It’s not about quitting drugs because you’re tired of them. It’s about recognizing that taking five pills for ten years doesn’t always mean you’re healthier—you might just be more vulnerable.
Deprescribing matters most for older adults, where polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications simultaneously, often without clear benefit is common. A 70-year-old might be on blood pressure meds, statins, acid reducers, sleep aids, and painkillers—all prescribed by different doctors over time. But no one ever sat down and asked: Are you still getting benefit from all of these? Studies show that up to 30% of meds taken by seniors are unnecessary or harmful. That’s not just waste—it’s risk. More pills mean more side effects, more falls, more confusion, more hospital visits.
It’s not just about age, though. People with chronic conditions like depression, anxiety, or arthritis often stay on meds long after they’ve stopped helping. Sometimes, the original reason for the drug is gone—like a short-term infection that cleared up, but the antibiotic stayed. Or maybe a new condition popped up, and instead of adjusting, another drug was added. That’s where drug withdrawal, the carefully managed process of stopping a medication to avoid rebound effects or withdrawal symptoms comes in. You don’t just stop cold. You work with a doctor to taper slowly, monitor for changes, and watch for what improves—or what gets worse.
What you’ll find in these posts isn’t theory. It’s real comparisons: how stopping one drug can improve sleep without needing another, how cutting back on acid reducers might fix heartburn naturally, how switching from one antidepressant to none at all can be safer than staying on it. These aren’t radical ideas—they’re practical steps taken by doctors who care more about how you feel than how many scripts they write.
Deprescribing isn’t anti-medication. It’s pro-wellness. It’s about asking: Is this still helping? And if not, what happens if we try without it?
Post-menopausal women face unique medication risks due to hormonal changes and polypharmacy. Learn which drugs to avoid, safer hormone options, non-hormonal alternatives, and how to prevent dangerous drug interactions.