Ensuring Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications in Pediatrics: Best Practices in Medication Discontinuation (Deprescribing)

Over the past decade, there has been increased oversight of pediatric prescriptive practices following concerns about inappropriate use of psychotropic medications in children. Deprescribing is a tool that pediatric psychopharmacologists can use in their daily practice to ensure judicious and appropriate use of psychotropic medication in children. Deprescribing is the systematic approach to identifying and discontinuing medications when existing or potential harms outweigh existing or potential benefits. Much of the research we have on deprescribing stems from the geriatric medicine suggesting that deprescribing practices promote improved patient outcomes while also reducing cost. Guidance in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry is beginning to emerge; relevant practice guidelines and articles are summarized in this chapter. Utilizing the current evidence base, best practices in deprescribing are outlined below to help guide providers in clinical practice.