What is the process of gradually reducing a patient's medication dosage called?

The process of gradually reducing a patient's medication dosage is referred to as tapering. This approach is often necessary when a patient has been on a certain medication for an extended period, particularly for medications that affect the brain or body significantly, such as those used for mental health conditions, chronic pain, or addiction. Tapering is conducted to minimize withdrawal symptoms and other adverse effects that might occur from abrupt cessation of the medication. It allows the patient’s body to adjust to the decreasing levels of the medication, which can enhance safety and comfort during the process of stopping the medication and help ensure better overall health outcomes.

In contrast, discontinuation typically refers to the complete stopping of a medication without the gradual reduction that tapering involves. Withdrawal represents the symptoms that can occur when a medication is suddenly stopped after prolonged use. Medication cessation is a more general term for stopping medication and does not specifically imply the gradual approach that tapering denotes. Thus, tapering is the precise term that highlights the importance of a careful and methodical reduction in dosage for patient safety.