Drug_discontinuation
Medication discontinuation
Ceasing of a medication treatment for a patient
Medication discontinuation is the ceasing of a medication treatment for a patient by either the clinician or the patient themself.[1][2] When initiated by the clinician, it is known as deprescribing.[3] Medication discontinuation is an important medical practice that may be motivated by a number of reasons:[4][3]
- Reducing polypharmacy
- Reducing health expenditure
- Improving quality of life by ceasing medications with potential adverse effects or where the indication for a medical treatment may have changed
- Reflect changes in evidence that support a treatment
- Reflecting changes in treatment goals, such as a move to end-of-life care.[5]
Unlike the prescribing of medications, appropriate discontinuation has not attracted nearly as much attention or interest.[6]