Approach to ceasing medications in elderly patients

Key questions to ask:

1. Is there a valid reason for each medication ?

2. Is the drug part of a prescribing cascade to counteract side effects of other medication?

3. Is the drug more likely to do harm than good in medium to long term ?

4. Is the drug prescribed unnecessary or ineffective or amenable to non drug intervention?

5. Is the drug primarily preventive medicine, which is unlikely to confer any patient important benefit over the patient's remaining lifespan?

6. Is the drug imposing unacceptable treatment burden?

References:
RACGP check program