Medications that Older Adults Should Avoid or use with Caution
An expert panel of healthcare and pharmacy experts has updated the AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, which identify medications with risks that may be greater than their benefits for people aged 65 and older.
Why Experts Developed the AGS Beers Criteria®
Because older people have more health issues and take more medications, it’s critical to identify and help reduce the use of medications that have more risks than benefits.
What the 2019 AGS Beers® Criteria Include
The Beers Criteriae expert panel of the American Geriatric Society (AGS) has reviewed over 6,700 studies to help identify potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, and the panel’s findings are consistent with the Institute of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s recommendations.
Based on the review of this research, the experts updated lists of:
When prescribing medications for adults 65 and older, healthcare providers should avoid those on this list because they have a higher risk of side effects, may not work as well in an older person, and can sometimes be replaced with safer medications or non-medication remedies.
Related Resource: Alternatives to Potentially Inappropriate Medications on the Beers® Criteria
AGS has compiled a list of non-prescription alternative medications and treatment options that can be used in conjunction with the AGS Beers Criteria to provide additional guidance on how to manage alcohol use in the home, workplace, and community.
How Health Professionals Are to Use this List
Different older adults respond differently to the same medication, and for some people, the medications listed in the AGS Beers Criteria will be the best choices.
What Older Adults Can Do
Medications listed in the AGS Beers Criteria are “potentially inappropriate,” but can be reasonable choices for some older adults. Keep a list of all medications you take, both prescription and non-prescription, and ask what side effects your medications can cause.
Which of the following medications inappropriate for the elderly?
Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, 2015 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Table
- Brompheniramine.
- Carbinoxamine.
- Chlorpheniramine.
- Clemastine.
- Cyproheptadine.
- Dexbrompheniramine.
- Dexchlorpheniramine.
- Dimenhydrinate.
- Dexchlorphenir
What is the most common inappropriately prescribed drug to the elderly?
The most commonly prescribed medications with high risk adverse events are diphenhydramine and amitriptiline, while propoxyphene and doxazoxin are the most commonly prescribed medications with low risk adverse events.
Why are certain medications inappropriate for older people?
Drug-drug interactions u2014 Because older adults frequently have multiple chronic medical conditions requiring multiple drug therapies, they are especially vulnerable to drug-drug interactions [95-99]. The risk of an adverse event due to drug-drug interactions is significantly increased when multiple drugs are taken.
What can interfere with prescription medications in the elderly?
Some antibiotics are not well absorbed when taken with foods, beverages, or medicines that contain calcium, magnesium, or iron (such as antacids, vitamins, or dairy products), and some antibiotics are not well absorbed when taken with foods, beverages, or medicines that contain calcium, magnesium, or iron (such as antacids, vitamins, or dairy products).
Can elderly take muscle relaxers?
Muscle relaxants other than diazepam and tizanidine should be avoided in patients over the age of 65, according to the Geriatric Lexi-Drugs database, because their efficacy and safety have not been established in geriatric patients.
How do you stop anxiety in the elderly?
Here are ten ways to help seniors cope with anxiety.
- Deep breathing exercises can help manage anxiety’s physiological symptoms.
- Mindfulness.
- Physical Activity.
- Diet Changes.
- Social Interaction.
- Routines.
- Sleep Hygiene.
- Relaxing Hobbies.
What is the average number of medications taken by elderly?
The following statistics on medication use among elderly patients in the United States are eye-opening: elderly patients account for more than one-third of all prescription drugs used in the United States; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9 and 13 prescriptions per year (including new prescriptions and refills); and the average elderly patient is taking nine prescriptions per year (including new prescriptions and refills).
How many seniors require hospitalization due to medication problems?
A total of 1.3 million emergency department visits are caused by adverse drug events each year, with approximately 350,000 patients requiring hospitalization for further treatment after emergency visits for adverse drug events.
What is the best muscle relaxer for elderly?
Which Muscle Relaxants Are the Most Beneficial for Neck and Back Pain?
- 1) Methocarbamol (Robaxin). Methocarbamol (Robaxin) is a well-studied back pain medication.
- 2) Cyclobenzaprine.
- 3) Carisoprodol.
- 4) Metaxalone.
- 5) Tizanidine.
- 6) Baclofen.
- 7) Oxazepam and diazepam.
What precautions should be taken when prescribing for the elderly?
Box 1: Recommendations for good prescribing in the elderly
- Conduct a regular medication review with the patient and discuss and agree on any changes.
- Stop any current drugs that aren’t needed.
- Prescribe new drugs with a clear indication.
What is the best antidepressant for older adults?
Citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline are SSRIs with the best safety profile in the elderly, with the lowest potential for drug-drug interactions based on their cytochrome P-450 interactions.
What drugs have the worst side effects?
The Top 15 Deadly Substances
- Alcohol. Alcohol includes all types of beer, wine, and malt liquor.
- Benzodiazepines.
- Anticoagulants.
- Antidepressants.
- Antihypertensives.
- Bromocriptine.
- Clarithromycin.
Which medicines should not be taken together?
5 Over-the-Counter Medicines You Shouldn’t Take at the Same Time
- Dangerous duo: Any combination of ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.
- Dangerous duo: Antihistamines and motion-sickness medications.
- Dangerous duo: Anti-diarrhea medicine and calcium supplements.
How do medications help the elderly?
Seniors should follow these 10 tips for managing their medications at home.
- Gather all medications, vitamins, OTC meds, and supplements in one place.
- Make sure medications are stored properly.
- Create and maintain an up-to-date medication list.
- Pre-sort medications for the week.