Deprescribing in Outpatient Internal Medicine Practices
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led medication reviews and deprescribing or de-escalation interventions on reducing the number of medications, falls, and hospitalizations, and improvement in quality of life in geriatric patients.
Description
With increasing age, key pharmacokinetic processes such as first-pass metabolism, bioavailability, drug distribution, and clearance, are affected, necessitating dose adjustments and careful medication management. Despite these risks, medication regimens in elderly patients are often left unchanged over time. Deprescribing, the intentional reduction or discontinuation of medications, has been shown to improve quality of life, reduce fall risk, minimize cognitive impairment, and decrease adverse drug interactions. In this analysis, the PharmD will perform a comprehensive medication review with t…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 75+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * 75 years or older * taking 6 or more medications Exclusion Criteria: * patients in hospice or palliative care * in Skilled Nursing Facility * receiving cancer/oncology treatment
Interventions
- Behavioralmedication review
Internal medicine providers and PharmDs will identify patients for whom a medication review and potential deprescribing / de-escalation intervention may be beneficial.
Location
- Wake Forest University Health SciencesWinston-Salem, North Carolina