No medicine is sometimes the best medicine

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to hospital from the rheumatology outpatient clinic for investigation of fatigue, malaise, emotional lability, muscle weakness, productive cough and postural hypotension. She had been taking prednisone 60-40 mg daily for 6 weeks for suspected giant cell arteritis, along with six other regular medications, and had recently finished a course of antibiotics. During her admission she underwent many investigations (mostly negative) and treatments (largely harmful). When the diagnosis of adverse drug reaction was eventually reached, her medications were withdrawn and her symptoms gradually resolved. She was discharged home 1 month after admission, vowing never to return following her 'stormy course'. Adverse drug reactions are a common cause of avoidable hospital admissions in the elderly, estimated to cost billions every year. The single greatest risk factor for adverse drug reactions is the number of medications a person takes. Deprescribing to reduce potentially inappropriate medication is a possible way forward.