How to Talk to Your Doctor About Reducing Unnecessary Medications

Many older adults take five, six, or even more medications every day. Some were prescribed years ago for conditions that have changed-or disappeared. Others are duplicates, or no longer offer real benefits but still carry risks. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your pillbox, or noticed that a medication is making you dizzy, foggy, or more tired than usual, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to wait for your doctor to bring it up. You can start the conversation yourself-and when you do, you’re far more likely to get results.

Why This Conversation Matters

Taking too many medications isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous. About 15% of seniors on five or more drugs experience a serious side effect each year-falls, confusion, kidney damage, or even hospital stays. These aren’t rare events. They’re common, and they’re often preventable. Deprescribing-carefully stopping or lowering doses of medications that no longer help-can improve your energy, balance, memory, and independence. But it only happens when you speak up.

Don’t Say ‘I Want Fewer Pills’

Too many people go into their appointment and say, ‘I just want to take fewer pills.’ That’s understandable. But doctors often hear it as a request for convenience, not safety. Research shows this approach fails 71% of the time. Instead, connect your concern to your life. Say something like:

• ‘I’ve been feeling dizzy after my morning pill, and I almost fell last week. I want to keep walking my dog without worrying.’
• ‘I used to garden every weekend, but now I’m too tired by noon. Could any of these meds be causing that?’
• ‘I don’t want to be on something that makes me forget where I put my keys if it’s not helping my blood pressure anymore.’

These statements work because they link your medication to your goals-not just your symptoms. A 2021 study in JAMA Network Open found that when patients framed their concerns around activities they valued-like walking, cooking, or spending time with grandkids-doctors agreed to reduce medications 89% of the time. That’s not luck. It’s strategy.

Prepare Before You Go

Walking in with a list of your meds isn’t enough. You need a medication impact journal. For one week, write down:

• What you take, and when (include supplements, OTC painkillers, and herbal products)
• Any side effects you notice (dizziness, nausea, confusion, sleepiness, constipation)
• When they happen (e.g., ‘drowsy 2 hours after taking atorvastatin’)
• How it affects your day (‘Couldn’t go to church because I felt too weak’)

One patient in Seattle brought this journal to her appointment and discovered her doctor had no idea she was taking three blood pressure pills. Her BP was already 90/60-but she was still getting a daily dose of lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, and metoprolol. Within three months, two were stopped. Her energy came back. She started gardening again.

Don’t forget to bring your pill bottles or a photo of your pillbox. About 23% of patients leave out key medications during appointments-especially supplements like fish oil, magnesium, or melatonin. These can interact with prescriptions, too.

Use the ‘Ask-Tell-Ask’ Method

This simple technique works better than any script. Here’s how:

1. Ask: ‘What’s your view on how my medications are working for me right now?’
2. Tell: ‘I’ve noticed I’ve been really tired lately, and I think it might be from the sleep aid or the muscle relaxer. I’d like to see if we could try cutting one.’
3. Ask again: ‘What’s the safest way to test if we can reduce this? Could we lower the dose slowly and check back in four weeks?’

Patients who use this method are 58% more likely to get a deprescribing plan than those who just ask for help. Why? It turns the conversation from ‘I want this gone’ to ‘Let’s figure this out together.’ Doctors respond better when they feel like partners, not targets.

Know Which Medications Are Most Often Overused

You don’t need to know all the science-but you should know the big ones. Based on the Beers Criteria and STOPP/START guidelines, these are the most common medications that may be safe to reduce or stop in older adults:

• Proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) taken longer than 8 weeks without a clear reason
• Benzodiazepines or sleep aids (like zolpidem or lorazepam)-especially if taken nightly for more than a month
• Anticholinergics (like diphenhydramine or oxybutynin) that cause brain fog or dry mouth
• Multiple blood pressure or diabetes meds when numbers are already too low
• Statins for people over 75 with no history of heart attack or stroke

You don’t need to argue the science. Just say: ‘I read that these are often stopped in people my age if they’re not helping. Could we look at mine?’ Bring a printed summary from Deprescribing.org or the American Geriatrics Society’s guidelines. Patients who bring these materials are 33% more likely to get a change approved.

Expect Gradual Changes

No one should stop a medication cold turkey-especially for anxiety, blood pressure, or antidepressants. Most successful deprescribing happens slowly. Your doctor might suggest:

• Reducing the dose by 25% every 2-4 weeks
• Trying a ‘drug holiday’-skipping a pill every other day for a week
• Switching to a different medication with fewer side effects

Ask: ‘How will we know if it’s working? What symptoms should I watch for?’ About 79% of doctors will only agree to deprescribe if you agree to a monitoring plan. That might mean checking in after two weeks, or tracking your balance or sleep in a simple log.

What If They Say No?

Sometimes, doctors say no. Maybe they’re worried about your blood pressure rising, or your anxiety coming back. That’s okay. Don’t walk away frustrated. Ask:

• ‘What’s the biggest risk if we try reducing this?’
• ‘Is there a way we could test it safely?’
• ‘Could we try it for a month and then recheck?’

Many doctors will agree to a trial. You might be surprised how often a 30-day trial leads to a permanent change.

You’re Not Being Difficult

A lot of seniors worry they’ll be seen as ‘difficult’ or ‘noncompliant’ if they question their meds. That’s a myth. The American Academy of Family Physicians found that 92% of doctors say deprescribing conversations go better when patients initiate them. You’re not challenging your doctor-you’re helping them do their job better. You know how you feel. They know the science. Together, you make better decisions.

What’s Changed in 2026

Medicare now requires doctors to review medications during your Annual Wellness Visit. Electronic health records now flag high-risk meds automatically. The CDC’s ‘Right Size My Meds’ campaign has reached over 12 million seniors. These changes mean doctors are more open than ever-but they still need you to lead the way.

Next Steps

Start today. Write down your top three medications that bother you. Think of one activity you want to keep doing-walking, reading, cooking, playing with grandkids. Then, write one sentence connecting them:

‘I want to keep cooking dinner without feeling dizzy after my blood pressure pill.’

Bring that sentence to your next appointment. That’s all it takes to start a conversation that could change your life.