Patient selection: chronic drug therapy
A patient may want a drug holiday if s/he has:
(1) a chronic psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia
(2) a chronic neurologic disorders (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, other)
(3) osteoporosis
(4) HIV
(5) cancer
Reasons to consider a drug holiday:
(1) troubling side effects
(2) reducing the risk of a complication
(3) depression (anger) or negative feelings focused towards the therapy
(4) sorting out a complex drug regimen
(5) loss of efficacy due to tolerance
Drug holidays may also occur by accident:
(1) while traveling
(2) if in the hospital
(3) during a drug shortage
General points:
(1) A patient should not decide to have a drug holiday without consulting with the prescribing physician or a pharmacist.
(2) An interruption in therapy should be known not to have any serious adverse effects for the patient such as loss of disease control.
(3) Starting and stopping a drug may affect other drugs being taken if there are drug interactions.
