Tapered Line | Dr Basanth Kenchaiah https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/ One-sentence, dated notes for patients and clinicians from Dr Basanth Kenchaiah, addiction psychiatrist, Melbourne. General information, not individual medical advice. en-au Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 1440 Polypharmacy usually means taking five or more regular medications; not always a problem, but is every one still needed? https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-polypharmacy-five-or-more-still-needed https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-polypharmacy-five-or-more-still-needed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 Definition Polypharmacy usually means taking five or more regular medications; not always a problem, but is every one still needed? Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/ Stopping some medicines suddenly can cause withdrawal; ask your doctor how to stop safely. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-stopping-suddenly-can-cause-withdrawal https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-stopping-suddenly-can-cause-withdrawal Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 From Practice Stopping some medicines suddenly can cause withdrawal; ask your doctor how to stop safely. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-deprescribing-patient.html Physical dependence is the body adapting to a medicine taken regularly; it is not the same as addiction. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-physical-dependence-not-addiction https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-physical-dependence-not-addiction Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 Definition Physical dependence is the body adapting to a medicine taken regularly; it is not the same as addiction. Optimising continuity of care could help reduce polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-continuity-of-care-polypharmacy https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-continuity-of-care-polypharmacy Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 Evidence Optimising continuity of care could help reduce polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/#relational-principles Source: Lampe et al., Drugs Aging 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-023-01022-8) In 2024, 4 in 5 drug-induced deaths in Australia were unintentional; could more of them be prevented? https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-unintentional-drug-deaths-prevention https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-unintentional-drug-deaths-prevention Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1100 Question In 2024, 4 in 5 drug-induced deaths in Australia were unintentional; could more of them be prevented? Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-overdose-australia.html Source: Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2026, penington.org.au (https://www.penington.org.au/australias-annual-overdose-report-2026/) In a study, half of aged care residents had 8+ medicines a day; can we ensure each deserves its place to keep them safe? https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-aged-care-eight-or-more-medicines https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-aged-care-eight-or-more-medicines Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Evidence In a study, half of aged care residents had 8+ medicines a day; can we ensure each deserves its place to keep them safe? Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/ Source: Garratt et al., J Clin Nurs 2026 (https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17856) Medicines are added with good intentions; who decides if and when one should come off? https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-who-decides-when-one-comes-off https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-who-decides-when-one-comes-off Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Question Medicines are added with good intentions; who decides if and when one should come off? Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/ Avoid mixing opioids, sleeping tablets and alcohol; together they can slow your breathing, even at usual doses. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-avoid-mixing-sedating-medicines https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-avoid-mixing-sedating-medicines Sun, 27 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 From Practice Avoid mixing opioids, sleeping tablets and alcohol; together they can slow your breathing, even at usual doses. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-overdose-australia.html What does a medication mean to you, beyond what it is prescribed for? https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-what-does-a-medication-mean https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-what-does-a-medication-mean Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Question What does a medication mean to you, beyond what it is prescribed for? Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/#relational-principles Deprescribing is the planned, supervised reducing/stopping of a medicine that may be causing harm or is no longer helping. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-deprescribing-definition https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-deprescribing-definition Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Definition Deprescribing is the planned, supervised reducing/stopping of a medicine that may be causing harm or is no longer helping. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/ In 2024, drug-induced deaths in Australia (2,596) were almost double road traffic deaths (1,307). https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-drug-deaths-double-road-deaths https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-drug-deaths-double-road-deaths Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Evidence In 2024, drug-induced deaths in Australia (2,596) were almost double road traffic deaths (1,307). Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-overdose-australia.html Source: Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2026, penington.org.au (https://www.penington.org.au/australias-annual-overdose-report-2026/) Drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-nhmrc-drinking-guideline https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-nhmrc-drinking-guideline Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Evidence Drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-alcohol-health.html Source: Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol, nhmrc.gov.au (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-advice/alcohol) Naloxone reverses opioid overdose; in Victoria it is free from participating pharmacies and 24-hour dispensing machines. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-naloxone-free-in-victoria https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-naloxone-free-in-victoria Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Evidence Naloxone reverses opioid overdose; in Victoria it is free from participating pharmacies and 24-hour dispensing machines. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/resources/info-overdose-australia.html Source: Victoria's Take-Home Naloxone Program, health.vic.gov.au (https://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod-treatment-services/victorias-take-home-naloxone-program) The goal is not a shorter prescription list but a safer and more effective one. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-not-shorter-but-safer https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-not-shorter-but-safer Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 Definition The goal is not a shorter prescription list but a safer and more effective one. Read more: https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/deprescribing/ Seeking help is not a judgement on you; it is the step that matters. https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-seeking-help-is-not-a-judgement https://basanthkenchaiah.com.au/notes/#note-seeking-help-is-not-a-judgement Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +1000 From Practice Seeking help is not a judgement on you; it is the step that matters.