Geriatric Quick Consult      Medications to Avoid in the Elderly      Do #8

Consider that the risk of falling is increased for patients taking >= 4 total drugs or >= 2 psychotropic drugs



Knowledge Action
Approximately 1 in 10 falls results in serious injury:
  • hip fracture
  • other fracture
  • subdural hematoma
  • head injury
  • other serious soft tissue injury

There is a clear relationship between falling and use of four or more medications of any kind, or use of two or more psychotropic medications.

Individual medications have also been associated with falling.

The strongest link to falling is with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptic agents, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, and Class IA antiarrhythmic medications.1
  • Minimize psychotropic and other meds to lower risk of falls.

References:

  1. Tinetti ME. N Engl J Med 2003;348:42-49.
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