For many older adults, managing multiple prescriptions is part of daily life. While medications can be essential, overprescription can lead to serious side effects, reduced quality of life, and even hospitalizations. At GeriatRx, we focus on deprescribing—helping patients and providers safely reduce or eliminate unnecessary medications to improve health outcomes.
Why I Started GeriatRx
My passion for deprescribing was sparked by personal experience. Early in my career as a geriatric pharmacist, I saw how older adults were often prescribed medications that did more harm than good. In many cases, patients experienced worsening cognitive impairment, dizziness or fatigue—symptoms that were misattributed to aging rather than medication side effects.
Families often don’t realize that some medications could be causing or worsening health issues. This lack of awareness and guidance pushed me to establish GeriatRx—a service dedicated to advocating for deprescribing and empowering patients, caregivers and providers to make informed decisions about medication management.
What We Do at GeriatRx
At GeriatRx, we take a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to deprescribing. Our services include:
- Comprehensive Medication Reviews—We analyze all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements to identify potential risks, interactions, and opportunities for deprescribing.
- Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing—With a cheek swab delivered to one’s home, GeriatRx can review medications for gene-drug interactions, checking to see if that drug will work for that person. With PGx testing, the trial-and-error approach is taken out of traditional medicine by understanding how a patient’s body may respond without taking a single pill.
- Deprescribing Action Plans—We create individualized plans for safely tapering or discontinuing unnecessary medications, while coordinating with the patient’s healthcare provider.
- Ongoing Support and Education—We provide training for healthcare teams, ensuring deprescribing strategies align with value-based care models.
How Genetic Testing (PGx) Enhances Medication Safety
One of the most powerful tools we use at GeriatRx is PGx testing. This process analyzes a person’s genetic makeup to predict how they will respond to certain medications. Because not all drugs work the same way for everyone, PGx testing helps identify which medications are likely to be effective, which may cause harmful side effects, and which may require dosage adjustments.
Deprescribing helps older adults regain the energy, clarity and stability needed to re-engage with enriching activities.
Some patients break down certain pain medications too quickly, reducing effectiveness, while others process them too slowly, increasing the risk of side effects like drowsiness or confusion. By using PGx testing, we can personalize medication plans and avoid the trial-and-error approach that often leads to unnecessary prescriptions and adverse reactions.
Deprescribing Opens Doors to Social Prescribing
Reducing unnecessary medications isn’t just about removing pills, it’s about improving quality of life. Many older adults on multiple medications experience fatigue, confusion and dizziness, which limit their ability to engage in meaningful activities.
Deprescribing opens the door to social prescribing—a concept that encourages non-medical interventions to improve health and well-being. Rather than relying solely on medications, patients can benefit from:
- Physical Activity—Light exercise, yoga or walking to improve mobility and balance.
- Cognitive Stimulation—Reading, puzzles, or creative activities to maintain mental sharpness.
- Social Engagement—Participating in community events, volunteer work, or support groups to reduce isolation.
- Nutrition & Lifestyle Changes—Tailored diet plans and sleep strategies to support overall health.
By deprescribing, we help older adults regain the energy, clarity and stability needed to re-engage with these enriching activities.
How GeriatRx Improves Lives
The outcomes we see at GeriatRx are transformative. Patients report feeling more alert, stable, and independent once unnecessary medications are removed. Caregivers feel relief knowing their loved ones are not overmedicated.
One client, a retired teacher, was struggling with chronic dizziness and memory issues. After a thorough medication review, we identified a drug interaction that was worsening her symptoms.
With her doctor’s approval, we adjusted her regimen, and within weeks, she felt like herself again, able to return to her passion for tutoring.
Another client, previously dependent upon high doses of sedatives, worked with us to safely taper off the medication. The result? Improved balance, fewer falls, and renewed confidence in daily activities.
Our Mission: Safer Medications, Healthier Lives
At GeriatRx, our goal is not just to deprescribe but to empower patients, caregivers, and providers with the knowledge and tools needed for safer, more effective medication use. Whether through comprehensive medication reviews, PGx testing, or deprescribing education, we’re committed to improving lives—one prescription at a time.
DeLon Canterbury, PharmD, BCGP, is the “The Deprescribing Pharmacist” and CEO of GeriatRx, Inc., and a certified community pharmacogenomics consultant in Durham, NC.
Photo credit: Shutterstock/koldo studio
