Barriers to Deprescribing

This chapter identifies the possible barriers to deprescribing, and presents suggestions for strategies to overcome them. Although deprescribing has the potential to streamline medication regimens, minimize side effects, cut costs, improve patient adherence, and strengthen the relationship between the patient and the prescribing professional, barriers may originate from the patient, physician, and/or the institution, both local and the larger medical institution. Barriers related to prescriber-related factors such as the physician’s illusion and fear of litigation, are discussed. Potential patient- and environment-related barriers are also discussed, including sociocultural factors which may emerge in the process of initiating a course of deprescribing. Included in this chapter is a discussion of the possibility of relapse, colloquially defined, and the patient’s and provider’s fears for rehospitalization. Possible strategies for overcoming each of these barriers are discussed.