Barriers to deprescribing proton pump inhibitors and how to overcome them

Abstract

Proton pump Inhibitors are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the UK, and since the availability of over-the-counter proton pump Inhibitors, the true number of patients taking proton pump Inhibitors is unknown. With the boom in the number of proton pump Inhibitor prescriptions, increasing numbers are being prescribed outside of the recommended guidelines, most commonly beyond the advised course length. Like all medications, proton pump Inhibitors are not innocuous and have a range of side effects, therefore, clinicians need to consider deprescribing them. There are multiple barriers to deprescribing, so one of the roles of a gastrointestinal nurse is to consider these barriers and develop strategies as to how they can be overcome.