Discussing deprescribing

Deprescribing can be defined as ‘the complex process required for the safe and effective cessation (withdrawal) of inappropriate medication’. A medication may be determined to be inappropriate if it has limited efficacy and/or side effects. The patient’s physical functioning, co-morbidities, preferences, and lifestyle should also be considered, and a shared decision to deprescribe should be reached.¹

At present, as there are no evidence-based guidelines specific to deprescribing opioids, a combination of the best available evidence and clinical experience can be used to guide practice. Several professional bodies have produced guidance on approaching opioid deprescribing, and although not identical, they reflect a number of common themes.^2,3–5 

As deprescribing is a complex process, it can be helpful to break it down into the different steps that may be involved.