NEW DELHI: For many elderly people, a typical day begins with a handful of pills – for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and heart disease. But a new global review suggests that in very frail older adults, continuing all long-term medicines may not always be necessary – and in many cases, carefully stopping some of them may be safe.The findings, published in the journal ‘BMC Geriatrics’, come from an analysis of patients with advanced frailty, dementia or limited life expectancy – a group often prescribed multiple medicines despite unclear long-term benefit. Researchers found that reducing or discontinuing such drugs did not lead to a rise in deaths or major complications in most cases.Many of these medicines are meant to prevent problems years later. Israel Iran WarMiddle East conflict: One Indian dead, another injured by missile debris in Abu Dhabi‘Man who ran Strait of Hormuz’: Iran navy commander Alireza Tangsiri killed in Israeli strikeBab al-Mandeb: How the ‘Gate of Tears’ may emerge as Iran’s second choke point after HormuzBut for frail or seriously ill patients, those benefits may never be realised. Instead, taking multiple drugs can increase the risk of dizziness, weakness, confusion and falls, often leading to hospitalisation.Doctors say this pattern of “polypharmacy”, where patients take several medicines at once, is increasingly common among the elderly in India. “They often see multiple specialists and prescriptions are not always reviewed together. In frail older adults, over-treatment can do more harm than good – for instance, aspirin for primary prevention should be avoided, excessive blood pressure control can lead to falls, and drugs like diuretics, insulin or sulfonylureas can cause electrolyte imbalance or hypoglycaemia. The focus sho-uld be on reducing medicines where the risks outweigh the benefits,” said Dr Pulin Gupta, professor in the department of medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.”In frail elderly patients, stopping some preventive medicines is generally safe if done carefully, though those with prior heart attack or stroke need caution,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, director of internal medicine at Max Hospital, Saket. He added that commonly overused drugs include statins for primary prevention, tightly controlled diabetes medicines like insulin or sulfonylureas, multiple blood pressure drugs, sleeping pills, long-term acid suppressants and anticholinergics.”Deprescribing should be structured – based on goals of care, frailty and life expectancy – with careful tapering and monitoring,” he said, noting that reducing medicines often leads to fewer falls, better cognition and improved energy levels.Families often assume more medicines mean better care, but the opposite can be true. Each added drug raises the risk of interactions. The review reflects a shift from aggressive prevention to pati-ent-centred care, where treatment aligns with health and priorities. Experts caution that medicines should not be stopped casually; reduction must be supervised, with each drug reviewed for need.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosLPG Vessel ‘Apollo Ocean’ Carrying 16,000 Tonnes Of Cargo Docks In KarnatakaUS Lawmaker Brandon Gill’s Chhat Puja Remark Sparks Outrage, Indian Diaspora Hits Back Strongly’Only PM Modi Can…’: Ex-US Army Col Ridicules Pak’s Mediation Push In Iran War, Pitches India‘Get Serious Before It’s Too Late’, Trump To Iran; Indian Govt Says ‘Have Enough Fuel For 2 Months’West Asia Conflict: PM Modi To Chair Key Meet With CMs To Review Preparedness, PlansIAF Seeks Ultra-Light High-Altitude Drones To Enhance Garud Commandos Capabilities | WatchHow Precision Rockets Are Changing Modern Warfare | Pinaka System Explained’India Is An Oasis Of Energy Security’: Govt Says No Fuel Shortage, Warns Against Misinformation’China And India Cannot Be Moved Apart’: Chinese Envoy’s BIG Message To Delhi, Urges Good TiesIndia-US Defence Partnership Enters New Phase With Focus On Co-Development And Technology Sharing123Photostories10 abandoned islands in the world no one dares to live on and the chilling reasons whyPM Narendra Modi loves Khichdi for regular meals: 5 traditional ways to add 20 gms more protein to the comfort mealFrom Jameel Jamali to Ram Prasad and Ravi Choudhary; Rakesh Bedi’s memorable roles in BollywoodDurandhar 2’s Rakesh Bedi aka Jameel Jamali’s 5 memorable shows: From Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah to Shrimaan ShrimatiWant puffed-up pooris every time? 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NEW DELHI: For many elderly people, a typical day begins with a handful of pills – for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and heart disease. But a new global review suggests that in very frail older adults, continuing all long-term medicines may not always be necessary – and in many cases, carefully stopping some of them may be safe.The findings, published in the journal ‘BMC Geriatrics’, come from an analysis of patients with advanced frailty, dementia or limited life expectancy – a group often prescribed multiple medicines despite unclear long-term benefit. Researchers found that reducing or discontinuing such drugs did not lead to a rise in deaths or major complications in most cases.Many of these medicines are meant to prevent problems years later. But for frail or seriously ill patients, those benefits may never be realised. Instead, taking multiple drugs can increase the risk of dizziness, weakness, confusion and falls, often leading to hospitalisation.Doctors say this pattern of “polypharmacy”, where patients take several medicines at once, is increasingly common among the elderly in India. “They often see multiple specialists and prescriptions are not always reviewed together. In frail older adults, over-treatment can do more harm than good – for instance, aspirin for primary prevention should be avoided, excessive blood pressure control can lead to falls, and drugs like diuretics, insulin or sulfonylureas can cause electrolyte imbalance or hypoglycaemia. The focus sho-uld be on reducing medicines where the risks outweigh the benefits,” said Dr Pulin Gupta, professor in the department of medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.“In frail elderly patients, stopping some preventive medicines is generally safe if done carefully, though those with prior heart attack or stroke need caution,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, director of internal medicine at Max Hospital, Saket. He added that commonly overused drugs include statins for primary prevention, tightly controlled diabetes medicines like insulin or sulfonylureas, multiple blood pressure drugs, sleeping pills, long-term acid suppressants and anticholinergics.“Deprescribing should be structured – based on goals of care, frailty and life expectancy – with careful tapering and monitoring,” he said, noting that reducing medicines often leads to fewer falls, better cognition and improved energy levels.Families often assume more medicines mean better care, but the opposite can be true. Each added drug raises the risk of interactions. The review reflects a shift from aggressive prevention to pati-ent-centred care, where treatment aligns with health and priorities. Experts caution that medicines should not be stopped casually; reduction must be supervised, with each drug reviewed for need.
