[Choosing Wisely in Patients with Polypharmacy]
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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs
Published on: June 21, 2018
1Institut für Hausarztmedizin, Universität und Universitätsspital Zürich, Zürich, Schweiz.
Abstract:
Choosing Wisely in Patients with Polypharmacy Abstract. 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!
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