The remedy for overmedication is deprescribing.

Follow the 5-step Medication Optimization Plan (MOP) to help ‘mop-up’ or ‘clean-up’ your medication list with your health care team.

Keep reading to learn more….

Sometimes we can feel better by making changes. When faced with several medications and not feeling great, possibly due to polypharmacy and overmedication, it may be that the remedy is to deprescribe to optimize medications.

Remedy can be either a noun or a verb. According to the Oxford English Dictionary remedy as a noun means ‘a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury. As a verb, its meaning is ‘set right’. This definition can easily be in sync with deprescribing. Deprescribing is the treatment to set medicine right.

A favorite song of mine, Remedy by The Zac Brown Band, talks of ‘Love as the remedy’, as it helps us to ‘Live stronger and wiser’. According to the song, love makes the world a better place. Love yourself enough to be kind to yourself, review your meds honestly, ask questions, and take action to optimize your meds with your health care team. When you feel better it’s easier to love others.

You have the tools available to begin your Medication Optimization Plan (MOP). Click on the templates option to see the available WISE and WELL forms and follow the steps below.

Medication Optimization Plan (MOP)

Step 1: Fill out the WISE and WELL Medication List. Place questions marks in areas that you are uncertain about. Ask yourself if you are self-medicating any ailments with over-the-counter, supplement, or herbal products.

Step 2: Prepare questions to ask your health care team. Use the WISE and WELL Question List to help guide you and add in any questions from your medication list.

Step 3: Discuss your medications with your health care team and ask if any medications may no longer be necessary or could be more harmful than helpful. Decide if any medications can be deprescribed (stopped, reduced, or changed to a safer med).

Step 4: Make a plan to deprescribe and use the WISE and WELL Deprescribing Form. Be certain you are clear with any instructions and how you plan to deprescribe the medication.

Step 5: Monitor, document, and follow up with your health care team. Use the WISE and WELL Deprescribing Form to help guide you on a lab test, self-monitoring, and the ultimate question, how you feel. Be certain to follow up with your health care team and let the pharmacy know of any medication changes. Lastly, update your medication list.

Deprescribing, the remedy for polypharmacy and overmedication, is a process and not just a one-time action. Make the conversation of deprescribing a common practice when visiting your health care providers.

Now that you have the tools and the path paved, keep reading my weekly blog on deprescribing to learn more about medications, successful deprescribing, and helpful resources. And most of all…. Stay wise and well!