Simplification of multiple prescription medications for the elderly / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Multiple medications can increase the risk of adverse drug reactions and adverse events in the elderly.Simplification of multiple medications is a systematic process of weighing the benefits and harms of drug use under the supervision of medical personnel, combining the patient's medical condition, current clinical status and personal preferences and tapering or stopping certain drugs while ensuring efficacy.Simplification of multiple prescription drugs can reduce falls, shorten the lengths of hospitalization, and reduce emergency visits for patients.This article gives a brief overview of simplification of multiple prescription drugs for the elderly and introduces the current available tools to do so.