Managing Polypharmacy in Geriatric Patients: The Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Deprescribing

Abstract

Older adults frequently manage several chronic conditions simultaneously, which often results in the use of multiple medications, commonly referred to as polypharmacy. While some medications are necessary, excessive or inappropriate drug use increases the risk of adverse drug events, hospitalizations, cognitive decline, and decreased quality of life. Deprescribing, a clinical strategy focused on tapering or discontinuing unnecessary medications, has emerged as a critical approach to reducing the negative effects of polypharmacy. Clinical pharmacists, owing to their specialized training in medication management, are ideally suited to lead and support deprescribing initiatives. This review explores the causes and consequences of polypharmacy in the elderly, outlines the process of deprescribing, and highlights the pharmacist’s role in promoting safer, more effective medication use among older adults.