10 Drugs to Reconsider
By Richard Allen, MD, MPH
B
y definition, when patients enroll in
hospice, they are no longer seeking lifesustaining treatments. Yet many may
still be taking medications that are no longer helpful
to them - neither beneficial for sustaining life nor
effective at providing comfort.
In this article, I review 10 commonly prescribed
medications that may provide little benefit to patients
in a terminal state - and may possibly cause
harm. Helping patients and caregivers understand
the negligible effect and potential danger of these
medications is also part of this review.
While I also provide the evidence to support the
disuse of these medications, please note that my
recommendations are meant only as a guide. Each
hospice medical director must take an individualized
approach, weighing the risks and benefits for each
patient as well as the patient and family's goals of care.
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NHPCO NewsLine
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine May 2014