deprescribing
/diːprɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
Definition
The clinical process of systematically reviewing and tapering or stopping medications that are no longer necessary, potentially harmful, or whose risks outweigh their benefits.
Etymology
The term is a combination of the prefix 'de-' (indicating removal or reversal) and 'prescribing' (from the Latin 'praescribere,' meaning to write before or order). It entered modern medical terminology to describe the formal management of polypharmacy and medication withdrawal.
In the news
In this article, the term is used to describe a government-led policy shift toward reducing reliance on psychiatric medications in favor of lifestyle and metabolic interventions. The author warns that when promoted as an ideological movement, it may create dangerous barriers for patients who rely on long-term medication to manage severe mental health conditions.
MAHA is rewriting the vocabulary of American mental health care
Read the full article ↗STAT