Choosing Wisely bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit Polypharmazie.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication have a negative impact on health. For reducing or stopping medication (deprescribing) patient benefits are crucial. The following stepwise approach has turned out to be successful: a. ask patients to bring along all their medication and compare them with the current medication list; b. offer shared decision making; c. evaluate every drug for indication, balance between benefit and harm, side effects and dose; d. prioritize benefit and harm according to values, preferences and goals of the patient; e. decide together about deprescribing; f. track changes in the medication plan und arrange a follow-up consultation. We illustrate this approach by the example of an older, frail female patient with polypharmacy. Deprescribing is just as important for patients' well-being as is prescribing! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]