What is "Deprescribing"? How and Why It Works for Some
"Deprescribing" is a word that means much like it sounds. People on medications want a doctor’s help to stop taking one or more drugs or to reduce their dosage. Initially, "deprescribing" was used by people with chronic illness and in senior care. People wanted to reduce medications for a variety of reasons.
Why do people reduce their medications? Many side effects decrease their quality of life. For some people, the more medications they are on, the less they thrive. Taking away medications often means taking away side effects, especially cognitive side effects. Today, many people on multiple medications may work to manage chronic conditions differently. They use new tools to cope, such as mindfulness or breathing exercises.
Medications and Recovery
Many people with mental health disorders alongside substance use may take medication daily to help them with their symptoms. While many types of mental illness are lifelong, symptoms and intensity can change over the years. The desire to reduce the medications a person takes can also be genuine for people who are in recovery from addiction.
"Deprescribing" isn’t for everyone. Some people simply need to take a certain amount of medication every day to live their best lives. If you want to try something like this, you should work with a medical professional to do it correctly and under supervision.
Why Would a Person Want to "Deprescribe"?
Many people who are on medications dislike them for a variety of reasons. Side effects for some drugs can cause quality of life issues. Medicines can cause weight gain, fatigue, hormonal issues, and other problems for people. So people often want to escape adverse side effects but don’t know where to start. "Deprescribing" can help put a person more in control of their health.
People in recovery often live with a mental health disorder, but as time goes on, they may want to try to manage the symptoms without medication. This is a big reason that "deprescribing" is becoming more common.
Getting Help for Addiction
Do you, or somebody you know, need help with a substance use disorder? Come reclaim your life, experience fellowship, and begin healing from your addiction. We offer a discreet and caring community, staffed with experienced professionals to help you begin your journey in recovery. Get in contact at US (949) 279-1376 or MX (612) 153-5726 to learn more about what we can offer you.