STOPP

Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology

STOPP
Stands forScreening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions
CategoriesMedical

STOPP stands for Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions, a pharmacology abbreviation.

European set of explicit criteria for identifying potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults, organized by body system. It is used with its companion START, which flags beneficial drugs that have been omitted.

Example: STOPP/START review: stop PPI over 8 weeks; START vitamin D and statin.

Usage notes

STOPP/START was developed in Ireland and first published in 2008, with a third version in 2023. Trials found that applying the criteria in hospital reduced adverse drug reactions. Unlike the Beers Criteria, which focus on drugs to avoid, START addresses undertreatment, such as missing anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation.

More pharmacology abbreviations

  • ADA – Anti-drug antibodies
  • ADE – Adverse drug event
  • ADME – Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
  • ADR – Adverse drug reaction
  • AE – Adverse event
  • ATC – Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification
  • AUC – Area under the curve
  • BAN – British Approved Name
  • BBW – Black box warning
  • BE – Bioequivalence
  • Cmax – Maximum concentration
  • Css – Steady-state concentration

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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.