MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week

MedsAware is AdPha's Deprescribing Action Week, raising awareness around polypharmacy and deprescribing.

‘Polypharmacy’ refers to the use of multiple medicines, usually defined as the use of five or more regular medicines. 

‘Deprescribing’ describes the process of discontinuing medicines that are no longer required, or for which the risk of harm outweighs the benefits in the individual. 

Medicines can have important benefits in curing and preventing diseases and improving symptoms. However, the potential benefits and harms of medicines can change over time as a person ages, acquires new medical conditions, takes new medicines and changes their care goals. Therefore, medicines should be regularly reviewed to make sure that they are still of benefit, and not causing any harms.  

Through MedsAware, AdPha is advocating for the expert skills of Australian pharmacists as leaders in deprescribing to minimise polypharmacy and prevent medication-related harm.

Join us in 2026

We were proud to partner with 18 national and international organisations for MedsAware 2025 as the deprescribing message gains momentum. 

If you or your organisation is interested in becoming a MedsAware 2026 supporter, submit your expression of interest and we will get in touch.

Become a MedsAware 2026 supporter →

From the President:

‘Deprescribing is in the DNA of AdPha, Australia’s pharmacy organisation for team-based, specialty pharmacist care.
 

‘The world’s first published use of “deprescribing” was in our flagship Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR) 20 years ago, in ‘Deprescribing: Achieving Better Health Outcomes for Older People through Reducing Medications’.
 

‘As medicines experts, pharmacists are best placed to detect and prevent inappropriate use of high-risk medicines, including antipsychotics, that are widespread in residential aged care facilities.
 

'MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week seeks to empower Australians and their carers, family and friends, together with pharmacists, doctors and other care team members, to optimise every medicines regimen to ensure it is current, effective and safe.
 

‘We’re proud to lead the MedsAware message and work with our partners to embed deprescribing as a central principle of safe health care, to reduce polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy and ensure more Australians stay out of hospital.’

— AdPha President Assoc. Prof. Tom Simpson