Deprescribing: How to Safely Reduce or Stop Unnecessary Medications
When you take too many drugs at once, it’s not always helping—it might be hurting. Deprescribing, the planned process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer needed or may be doing more harm than good. Also known as medication tapering, it’s not about quitting drugs cold turkey—it’s about making smart, safe choices with your doctor to match your current health needs. Many older adults, especially those over 65, end up on 5, 10, or even more pills a day. Some were started years ago for conditions that have changed or gone away. Others were added to treat side effects from earlier drugs. This mess of overlapping prescriptions is called polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a patient, often leading to increased risk of adverse effects. It’s not uncommon for someone to be on a statin for cholesterol, an anticholinergic for bladder issues, a benzodiazepine for sleep, and a proton pump inhibitor for heartburn—all of which can interact, cause dizziness, confusion, falls, or even kidney damage.
Deprescribing isn’t just for seniors. Anyone on long-term antidepressants, pain meds, or acid reducers might benefit from a review. For example, if you’ve been taking an SSRI for five years and your depression is in remission, maybe you don’t need the full dose anymore. Or if you’re on a daily PPI for occasional heartburn, you might be able to stop it safely with lifestyle changes. The Beers Criteria, a list of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, updated regularly by experts. helps doctors spot drugs that are risky for aging bodies—like anticholinergics that can cause urinary retention or confusion, or sedatives that increase fall risk. These aren’t bad drugs—they’re just not always right for every person, every year.
Stopping a drug isn’t as simple as skipping a pill. Some medications, like antidepressants or blood pressure pills, can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped too fast. That’s why deprescribing is done slowly, with clear goals and monitoring. You might reduce your dose by 25% every two weeks, track how you feel, and check in with your provider. The goal isn’t to stop everything—it’s to stop what’s unnecessary. And sometimes, that means replacing a drug with something safer: physical therapy instead of a muscle relaxant, or better sleep habits instead of a sleeping pill.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories and facts about how people have safely cut back on meds—whether it’s managing SSRI side effects, avoiding dangerous interactions between statins and antifungals, or recognizing when urinary retention is caused by an old prescription. You’ll see how aging changes how your body handles drugs, why generic pills can still be risky if taken in excess, and how to tell if a medication you’ve been on for years is still doing you any good. This isn’t about avoiding medicine—it’s about using it wisely. Because sometimes, the best thing you can do for your health is to take less.
