PrescQIPP

Polypharmacy and deprescribing

Appropriate polypharmacy and deprescribing has long been a popular topic with both commissioners and patient facing clinicians and is a priority for us in order to help improve patient safety.

Here you'll find all our resources in this key area and links to examples of good practice in medicines optimisation, medication review and appropriate polypharmacy nationally and internationally.

Additional resources include algorithms to support the deprescribing of specific medicines, flow chart, case study and patient letter.

Why not add to the resource by contributing your local work?

The flowchart shows the steps in the process to engage patients fully in decisions about their treatment.

B272: Constipation

Reviews the treatments available for constipation (including newer therapies) and provides advice and guidance on when they should be used and for how long.

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B256: Dependence forming medications

Provide an overview of dependence forming medications (DFMs) and signpost to our other resources in this area.

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B285: Fentanyl

Supports the review of the prescribing of immediate-release fentanyl in line with national guidance. Deprescribing and switching options are considered.

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B258: Hypnotics

Offers advice on managing new patients with insomnia, recommends cost-effective prescribing choices, and encourages you to review chronic hypnotic users with a view to helping them withdraw from treatment.

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B252: Medicines without harm

Support the implementation of local campaigns for the World Health Organisation (WHO) global patient safety challenge, medication without harm.

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B265: NSAIDs

Looks at the safety implications of long term treatment with NSAIDs and support treatment initiation and review.

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B215: Opioid patches

Focuses on the safe and appropriate prescribing of opioid patches as well as cost effective treatment choices.

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B199: Oxycodone naloxone prolonged release

Supports the implementation of the NHS England guidance on low priority prescribing.

Support materials are also available for organisations to adapt and use to implement changes.

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B267: PPI- Long term safety and gastroprotection

Focuses on reducing PPI prescribing for safety reasons by reviewing the continued need and stepping down or deprescribing where appropriate in line with current guidance.

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B208: Paracetamol and tramadol combination products

Focuses on paracetamol 325mg and tramadol 37.5mg combination products and provides the rationale for new patients to be initiated on paracetamol or paracetamol with codeine. Current patients should be considered for a switch to paracetamol alone or paracetamol with codeine.

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We have several e-learning courses aimed at GPs, nurse prescribers, PCN and practice pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, medicines optimisation teams and community pharmacists to support work in this area.

Of particular interest would be our polypharmacy and deprescribing, anticholinergic burden and dependence forming medicines e-learning courses.

Find out more including e-learning course outlines or purchase as an individual on our e-learning store.