When to Stop a Medication–and How to Do It Safely

Drugs & Treatments

When to Stop a Medication–and How to Do It Safely

Many prescriptions are meant for short-term use–not a lifetime. Without guidance, patients often remain on them unnecessarily for years.

The Smart Patient’s Playbook

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Part 14

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Illustration by Ran

For more than two decades, “Jane,” a woman in her early 70s, took the same small white pill each night to sleep. It had been prescribed when menopause first disrupted her rest.

She tried to stop more than once. Each time, her insomnia came rushing back. It wasn’t that she needed the drug. Her body had become dependent on it.