When you think of a pharmacist, what first comes to mind? Is it learning about a new medication? Is it asking for advice about which over-the-counter medicine you should use? You may be surprised when that a pharmacist can talk to you about stopping a medication.

*record skips* Wait a minute. Aren’t pharmacists supposed to be “pill pushers?”

Though your pharmacist can be a great source of information about which medications can help treat your health conditions, another part of their job is to make sure your medications are the best fit for you and your health goals. That can mean many things like when to start or switch to a new medication, when to increase your dose, or the opposite- when to stop or reduce the dose of a medication. Your health providers may refer to this as “deprescribing.”

Deprescribing.org provides the following definition: “Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of dose reduction or stopping of medication that might be causing harm, or no longer be of benefit. Deprescribing is part of good prescribing – backing off when doses are too high, or stopping medications that are no longer needed.”

The core concept is this: medications that were good in the past, might not be the best choice now. A pharmacist’s goal is to make sure your medication regimen has the greatest benefit to you with the lowest long-term risks, which means revisiting each drug periodically over time to make sure it is still the best choice.

What are some medications that might be deprescribed?

The short answer is this: Any medication could potentially be a candidate to be deprescribed depending on the goals and wishes you have discussed with your provider. There are certain medications that your pharmacist may be likely to recommend stopping, particularly as we get older and the way our body responds to medications changes. Here are a few examples:

• Medicines used to reduce stomach acid
• Certain diabetes medications
• Sleep aids

An important caveat!

Deprescribing doesn’t mean taking away medications that you want to continue. The second core concept, which applies to all areas of your health, is that the decision to “deprescribe” is shared between you and your health care provider. Pharmacists and other providers can be a valuable source of information, but the decision needs to be shared among the health care team for the best results. Who is the V.I.P of that team? YOU!

When you are gathering information to make a decision regarding your health care, it may be helpful to ask yourself: are you SURE?

The SURE Test ©2008 O’Connor & Légaré.

If you’re interested in stopping a medication, whether because of a side effect or to reduce the number of pills you take, your pharmacist can be a valuable source of information and support. It is important to always consult with your pharmacist or doctor before abruptly stopping a medication. Certain medications may need to be slowly reduced before stopping to prevent negative health effects, which can be severe. Even if a medication you are taking is one that may be deprescribed for some people, it may still be the right fit for your health conditions. Contact your healthcare provider if you would like to discuss further

Prepared by Sam Miller PharmD Candidate 2020

References:

1. Farrell B, Black C, Thompson W, McCarthy L, Rojas-Fernandez C, Lochnan H, et al. Deprescribing antihyperglycemic agents in older persons. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline. Can Fam Physician 2017;63:832-43 (Eng), e452-65 (Fr).
2. Farrell B, Pottie K, Thompson W, Boghossian T, Pizzola L, Rashid FJ, et al. Deprescribing proton pump inhibitors. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline. Can Fam Physician 2017;63:354-64 (Eng), e253-65 (Fr).
3. Légaré F, Kearing S, Clay K, et al. Are you SURE?: Assessing patient decisional conflict with a 4-item screening test. Can Fam Physician. 2010;56(8):e308–e314.
4. Pottie K, Thompson W, Davies S, Grenier J, Sadowski C, Welch V, Holbrook A, Boyd C, Swenson JR, Ma A, Farrell B (2016). Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for deprescribing benzodiazepine receptor agonists. Can Fam Physician 2018;64:339-51 (Eng), e209-24 (Fr)
5. What is Deprescribing? Deprescribing.org. https://deprescribing.org/what-is-deprescribing/. Accessed January 30, 2020.

The post What is “Deprescribing?” Does this mean my healthcare provider wants me to stop my medication? first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

Though commonly found in adults over 65 accelerated muscle loss diagnosed as sarcopenia, may be avoidable. Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of muscle mass and/or quality characterized by a decline in muscle strength and/or physical performance. It is a condition commonly found in the geriatric population and can be compounded by lifestyle issues, such as suboptimal diet or lack of exercise. It generally starts at about age 40 and, for most people, progressively accelerates after age 65, affecting muscle size, strength and performance.

It can diminish a person’s ability to do everyday activities such as lifting objects and climbing stairs. Sarcopenia impacts an estimated 25% of the U.S. population age 60 and older, generating medical costs of more than $18.5 billion annually. The disease can be compounded by lifestyle issues, such as a poor diet or lack of exercise.

For example, it is know that adequate exercise is essential to healthy muscle metabolism. However, a sedentary lifestyle can have a direct and negative impact on sarcopenia. Muscle loss can cause a patient’s capacity for physical activity to become lower, making it even more difficult for aging patients to practice a variety of movements.

Poor nutrition is also a critical factor that can accelerate the muscle loss process. Sarcopenia patients are often observed to have nutritional deficiencies. Eating enough quality protein and consuming amino acids can be fundamental to muscle synthesis.

Fortunately, in addition to maintaining a proper diet and exercise routine, recent studies have proved that a proprietary formulation of astaxanthin, an exceptionally powerful antioxidant, significantly benefits sarcopenia patients. According to Dr. Kevin Conley, Ph.D., professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, “We saw improvement in strength, endurance and mobility among our study participants who took astaxanthin medicinal formula with a moderate exercise plan. This gives clinicians an option for their patients who cannot make the substantial lifestyle changes required to halt the crippling impact of muscle loss.”

To learn more about sarcopenia and the power of astaxanthin explore SarcopeniaHelp.com. You’ll also discover a 5 question quiz which may help determine if you or a loved one should discuss sarcopenia with your care provider.

The post What is Sarcopenia? first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

The post PrEP services at your local pharmacy first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

“Pet owners are total “scaredy cats” when it comes to giving their feline friends medication. As a pharmacist who specializes in veterinary compounding, I talk to worried clients with sick cats every day. And I get your fears! You want to ensure your beloved cat gets the best treatment possible, but you’re also aware your cat probably doesn’t see it that way when you’re feeding it a bitter pill.

That’s where veterinary compounding can help.” Learn more at the Trupanion Blog.

The post Alternative Ways to Give Your Cat Medicine first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

The post Get Ready For Flu Season [Video] first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

The post Virginia Mason and Kelley-Ross Transitions of Care Success [Video] first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.

The post The Future of Pharmacy first appeared on Kelley-Ross Pharmacy Group.