Pharmacist-Based ‘Deprescribing’ Reduced Older Adults Exposure to Memory-Diminishing Drugs
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Using pharmacists as “deprescribing” care coordinators reduced the prescription of anticholinergics by 73% and reduced cumulative use of these drugs by as much as 70%, according to a recent study by the Regenstrief Institute, Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Indiana University School of Medicine.
Anticholinergics are a class of drugs frequently prescribed for depression, urinary incontinence and many other conditions common in older adults.
However, they also affect the brain by blocking acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter that influences memory, alertness and planning skills.
The purpose of the study was to develop pharmacist-centric delivery models to successfully switch patients to safer drugs.
“Our new study is important, necessary preliminary work, enabling us to test whether deprescribing these drugs improves clinical outcomes,” said Noll Campbell, the Regenstrief Institute and Purdue College of Pharmacy faculty member who led the effort.
“Tackling deprescribing has not been easy. That pharmacist-centric deprescribing models work so well does not surprise me because pharmacists are well suited for the task. They are knowledgeable about medications, often have a close relationship with the patients and are well trained to communicate with providers,” Campbell said.
The study, “Deprescribing anticholinergics in primary care older adults: Experience from two models and impact on a continuous measure of exposure,” was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
