By Pash Sonigra on December 12, 2024
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘less is more’, and it rings especially true when it comes to our health. When we spoke to healthcare teams at our 2024 events, the opportunities deprescribing presents are exciting, but it feels like we’re just scratching the surface.
The challenge
While deprescribing is the buzzword on panels and podcasts, it’s not without its challenges. One significant hurdle is patient anxiety. Patients may worry about the potential consequences of stopping a medication, even if it’s no longer needed.
Clinicians also face challenges, time constraints along with the complexity of assessing the risks and benefits of each medication can sometimes outweigh the risk of reward. Work in primary care can be reversed after a hospital visit, taking the process right back to square one, it’s a story we all know, so what can we do about it?
Risk vs. reward
Setting the challenges to one side, the long-term benefits of deprescribing can’t be argued with:
- Improved Quality of Life: Fewer medications can mean fewer side effects and a better quality of life for patients
- Reduced Risk: Less medication reduces the risk of drug interactions and adverse events which could mean less hospital visits
- Cost Savings: The NHS currently spend £19bn on medicines, local structured medication reviews carried out at system level can potentially highlight wastage
A collaborative partnership
Successful deprescribing is a collaborative effort between healthcare providers and patients. By engaging patients in open and honest conversations about their medications, we can empower them to make informed decisions about their health. Our digital solution facilitates these conversations, allowing patients to actively take control of their prescribing journey.
If you’d like to discuss the topic in more detail, reach out to Mahesh Mistry on LinkedIn or by email.
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