Engage Patient
All decisions made should be made in collaboration with the patient and/or caregiver. Consider implementing a benzodiazepine taper agreement with your patient to ensure that both the patient and the provider know what goal they are working towards and the responsibilities of each party involved.
Resources
- Starting a Conversation about Deprescribing Opioids or Benzodiazepines (UNC resource)
- Benzodiazepine Taper Agreement (UNC resource)
- Addressing Barriers to Benzodiazepine Tapering (UNC resource)
- Planning to Stop Taking Benzodiazepine: Care Instructions (Epic patient education resource)
Motivational interviewing helps the patient identify the benefits, from their perspective, of tapering their benzodiazepine medications(s).
Resources
- Motivational Interviewing Resource – Anxiety (UNC resource)