Deprescribing: Right-Sizing Medication Regimens to Optimize Outcomes in Palliative Care

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to describe the current state of polypharmacy in older adults and those with an advanced illness, evidence that supports deprescribing, and best practices to implement deprescribing in palliative care. Recent Findings Practitioners and patients indicate they are interested in reducing the number of medications prescribed, but there are barriers to this practice. Over 90% of Medicare beneficiaries stated they would be willing to stop taking one or more of their medications if endorsed by their doctor. Several tools have become available in recent years to assist practitioners make more consistent decisions about deprescribing. Summary Deprescribing is a patient-centric, important part of the prescribing process, and it is imperative that providers make this clear in conversations with patients and families. Tools and processes are available to assist providers in having these conversations and making these important decisions in caring for older adults and palliative care patients.