Many older adults take five, six, or even more medications every day. Some were prescribed years ago for conditions that have changed-or disappeared. Others cause dizziness, confusion, or fatigue that make daily life harder. Yet few people ever ask if they can stop taking them. The truth is, deprescribing-the careful, step-by-step process of reducing or stopping medications that no longer help-isn’t just safe. It’s often the best way to feel better.

Why Deprescribing Matters More Than You Think

Taking too many medications doesn’t mean you’re being thorough. It means you’re at risk. About 15% of seniors on five or more drugs experience harmful side effects like falls, memory problems, or kidney stress. These aren’t rare accidents. They’re predictable outcomes of outdated or overlapping prescriptions. One study found that nearly 70% of older adults would welcome fewer pills-if their doctor brought it up first. But most doctors don’t. That’s why you need to start the conversation.

Don’t Say ‘I Want Fewer Pills’

Saying ‘I want to take fewer pills’ often leads to a dead end. Doctors hear that all the time-and they’re trained to focus on disease markers, not how you feel. If you say you want fewer medications, they might respond with, ‘But your blood pressure is still high,’ or ‘Your cholesterol is out of range.’ That shuts down the conversation before it begins.

Instead, talk about your life. Say things like:

• ‘I’ve been feeling dizzy after I take my afternoon pill-I nearly fell last week.’
• ‘I used to walk to the park with my grandkids. Now I’m too tired to even get out of the chair.’
• ‘I’m taking eight pills a day. I can’t remember which ones are for what.’

Research shows that when patients connect their medication concerns to real-life goals-like walking, gardening, or sleeping through the night-doctors are 5.8 times more likely to agree to a reduction plan. Your goal isn’t to take fewer drugs. It’s to live better.

Prepare Before Your Appointment

Walking into a doctor’s office without a plan is like showing up to a car repair with no idea what’s wrong. You need to be ready.

Start by making a full list of everything you take. Don’t forget:

• Prescription drugs
• Over-the-counter painkillers (like ibuprofen or naproxen)
• Vitamins, herbs, or supplements (even ‘natural’ ones)
• Medications you stopped but still have in the cabinet

Write down what each pill is for. Then note any side effects you’ve noticed. Be specific. Don’t say ‘I feel weird.’ Say:

• ‘After taking my sleep pill, I wake up groggy and forget where I put my keys.’
• ‘My stomach burns every morning after I take the aspirin.’
• ‘I’ve had three near-falls in the last month-right after I took my blood pressure medicine.’

Pick one or two medications you’d like to talk about. Don’t try to tackle them all at once. Focus on the ones that are most likely to cause harm: sedatives, anticholinergics, blood pressure drugs, or diabetes meds that cause low blood sugar. The Beers Criteria and STOPP/START guidelines-used by doctors worldwide-list which drugs are riskiest for seniors. You don’t need to memorize them. Just bring your list and say, ‘I read that some of these might not be right for someone my age. Can we review them?’

Use the Ask-Tell-Ask Method

This simple technique works every time. It turns a one-sided lecture into a real conversation.

1. Ask: ‘What’s your view on how my medications are working for me right now?’
2. Tell: ‘I’ve noticed I’m more tired than before, and I’ve had two falls. I’m worried these pills might be doing more harm than good.’
3. Ask: ‘What would be the safest way to test if we could reduce one of these?’

This approach avoids sounding demanding. It invites collaboration. Doctors are more willing to change things when they feel you’re working with them-not against them.

Expect a Slow Process

No one should stop a medication cold turkey-especially if it’s been taken for years. Deprescribing isn’t about quitting. It’s about adjusting. Most successful cases involve cutting doses by 25% every few weeks, then watching for changes. Your doctor might suggest a ‘drug holiday’-taking a break for a week or two-to see how you feel without it.

Ask: ‘If we reduce this, what signs should I watch for?’ Some medications cause rebound effects-like higher blood pressure or worse sleep-when stopped too fast. Others cause withdrawal symptoms like anxiety or shaking. You need to know what’s normal and what’s dangerous.

Bring a notebook to track how you feel each day. Note energy levels, balance, sleep, appetite, and mood. This gives your doctor real data-not just your word.

Bring Printed Info-It Helps

Doctors are busy. Many haven’t had formal training in deprescribing. That’s why bringing a one-page summary from a trusted source can make a big difference.

The Canadian Deprescribing Network has free, evidence-based guides for common drug classes: antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, proton pump inhibitors, statins, and diabetes meds. Print one page for the medication you’re concerned about. Hand it to your doctor and say, ‘I found this. Does this match what you’re seeing with me?’

Studies show patients who bring this kind of material are 33% more likely to have a medication reduced. It doesn’t mean you’re telling them what to do. It means you’re helping them do their job better.

What If They Say No?

Sometimes, doctors say no. Maybe they’re worried about your blood pressure, or they think the medication is protecting you from a heart attack. That’s okay. Don’t argue. Say:

• ‘Can we try a smaller dose for a month and check back?’
• ‘Could we monitor my balance and energy over the next six weeks?’
• ‘Would you be open to a second opinion from a geriatric pharmacist?’

Many hospitals now have geriatric pharmacists who specialize in medication reviews for seniors. Ask your doctor if they can refer you to one. These specialists spend 45 minutes reviewing every pill you take-something most GPs don’t have time for.

It’s Not About Cutting Corners

Some people worry that reducing medications means your doctor is giving up on you. That’s a dangerous myth. In fact, the opposite is true. Deprescribing is one of the most caring things a doctor can do. It’s not about saving money. It’s about protecting your health.

A 2023 study found that 63% of caregivers thought cost-based reasons for stopping meds meant ‘less care.’ But when doctors explained that stopping a risky drug could prevent a fall, hospital stay, or brain injury, that fear dropped by 70%. Your goal isn’t to be cheaper. It’s to be safer.

What’s Changed in 2025?

Medicare now requires doctors to review medications during your Annual Wellness Visit. Electronic health records automatically flag risky prescriptions for seniors. The CDC’s ‘Right Size My Meds’ campaign has reached over 12 million older adults in the U.S. and Australia. More doctors are learning how to do this. But they still need you to lead the way.

The biggest barrier isn’t medical. It’s silence. Most seniors don’t speak up because they fear being seen as difficult. But research shows that 92% of doctors say deprescribing goes better when the patient starts the conversation. You’re not being pushy. You’re being smart.

Your Next Step

This week, do three things:

1. Write down every pill, supplement, and OTC drug you take.
2. Circle the ones that make you feel worse-dizzy, tired, confused, or unsteady.
3. Write one sentence: ‘I want to feel well enough to [do something meaningful].’

Bring that list to your next appointment. Say: ‘I’d like to talk about whether any of these medications might be doing more harm than good.’

You don’t need permission to ask. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to speak up. Because your health isn’t measured in prescriptions. It’s measured in how you live-each day, without fear, without dizziness, without forgetting your own name.