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The Beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in adults 65 and older in the United States is a compilation of drugs and drug classes found to increase the risk of adverse events in older adults. Frequently, older adults are more sensitive to the medications or their side effects. These adverse events have significant economic and quality of life costs for society and individuals and can result in more frequent hospitalizations, permanent injury, or death. Often, the potential for adverse events can be minimized by prescribing safer alternatives or prescribing at the lowest effective dose. The list of medications below represents an update to the list previously published in 2015.

alprazolam (Xanax) (Xanax XR)
amiodarone (avoid using as first-line therapy for atrial fibrillation unless heart failure or significant left ventricular hypertrophy present)(Pacerone)
amitriptyline
amobarbital (Amytal Sodium)
amoxapine
aripiprazole (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Abilify) (Abilify Maintena)
asenapine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Saphris)
aspirin (avoid using dosage >325 mg/day)
atropine (does not apply to ophthalmic formulations)(Atropen)
belladonna alkaloids (Donnatal)
benztropine (oral only)(Cogentin)
brexpiprazole (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)(Rexulti)
brompheniramine
butabarbital (Butisol Sodium)
butalbital
carbinoxamine (Karbinal ER)
cariprazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Vraylar)
carisoprodol (Soma)
chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
chlordiazepoxide-amitriptyline
chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
chlorpromazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or for short-term use as antiemetic during chemotherapy)
chlorzoxazone
clemastine (Dayhist Allergy)
clidinium-chlordiazepoxide (Librax)
clomipramine (Anafranil)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
clonidine (avoid use for first-line treatment of hypertension)(Catapres) (Duraclon) (Kapvay)
clorazepate (Tranxene)
clozapine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Clozaril) (Versacloz)
cyclobenzaprine (Amrix) (Fexmid)
cyproheptadine
desipramine (Norpramin)
desmopressin (avoid use for treatment of nocturia or nocturnal polyuria)(DDAVP) (Nocdurna) (Noctiva) (Stimate)
dessicated thyroid (Armour Thyroid)
dexbrompheniramine
dexchlorpheniramine
dexlansoprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Dexilant)
diazepam (Valium)
diclofenac (Cambia) (Zipsor) (Zorvolex)
dicyclomine (Bentyl)
diflunisal
digoxin (avoid using for first-line treatment of atrial fibrillation or heart failure; avoid using dosage >0.125 mg/day)(Lanoxin)
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
dipyridamole (short-acting)
disopyramide (Norpace) (Norpace CR)
doxazosin (avoid using for treatment of hypertension)(Cardura)
doxepin (avoid using dosage >6 mg/day)(Silenor)
doxylamine
dronedarone (avoid use in permanent atrial fibrillation or in patients with severe or recently decompensated heart failure)(Multaq)
ergoloid mesylates
esomeprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Nexium) (Nexium 24HR)
estazolam
estrogens (with or without progestins) (avoid systemic estrogens; intravaginal formulations acceptable to use)
eszopiclone (Lunesta)
etodolac
fenoprofen (Nalfon)
fluphenazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)
flurazepam
glimepiride (Amaryl)
glyburide (Diabeta) (Glynase)
growth hormone (avoid unless used for confirmed growth hormone deficiency)
guanfacine (Intuniv)
haloperidol (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or for short-term use as antiemetic during chemotherapy)(Haldol)
hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz) (Levsin)
ibuprofen (Advil) (Motrin)
iloperidone (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)(Fanapt)
imipramine (Tofranil)
indomethacin (Indocin) (Tivorbex)
insulin (avoid use of regimens containing only short- or rapid-acting insulin without concurrent use of basal or long-acting insulin)
isoxsuprine
ketoprofen
ketorolac
lansoprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Prevacid) (Prevacid 24HR) (Prevacid SoluTab)
lorazepam (Ativan)
loxapine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Adasuve)
lurasidone (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Latuda)
meclizine
meclofenamate
mefenamic acid (Ponstel)
megestrol (Megace ES)
meloxicam (Mobic) (Qmiiz ODT) (Vivlodex)
meperidine (Demerol)
meprobamate
metaxalone (Skelaxin)
methocarbamol (Robaxin)
methscopolamine
methyldopa
methyltestosterone (avoid unless used for confirmed hypogonadism)(Android) (Testred)
metoclopramide (avoid use, except in gastroparesis [use should generally not exceed 12 wk])(Reglan)
mineral oil (oral)
nabumetone
naproxen (Aleve) (Anaprox) (Naprelan) (Naprosyn)
nifedipine (immediate-release)(Procardia)
nitrofurantoin (avoid using if CCr <30 mL/min or for long-term suppression of urinary tract infections)(Furadantin) (Macrobid) (Microdantin)
nortriptyline (Pamelor)
olanzapine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or for short-term use as antiemetic during chemotherapy)(Zyprexa) (Zyprexa Relprevv) (Zyprexa Zydis)
olanzapine-fluoxetine (avoid use, except in bipolar disorder)(Symbyax)
omeprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Prilosec) (Prilosec OTC)
orphenadrine
oxaprozin (Daypro)
oxazepam
paliperidone (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Invega) (Invega Sustenna) (Invega Trinza)
pantoprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Protonix)
paroxetine (Brisdelle) (Paxil) (Paxil CR) (Pexeva)
pentobarbital (Nembutal)
perphenazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or for short-term use as antiemetic during chemotherapy)
perphenazine-amitriptyline (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)
phenobarbital
pimozide
piroxicam (Feldene)
prazosin (avoid using for treatment of hypertension)(Minipress)
prochlorperazine (avoid use, except for short-term use as antiemetic during chemotherapy)(Compro)
promethazine
propantheline
protriptyline
pyrilamine
quazepam (Doral)
quetiapine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Seroquel) (Seroquel XR)
rabeprazole (avoid scheduled use for >8 wk unless for high-risk patients or patients with erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagitis, or pathological hypersecretory condition)(Aciphex) (Aciphex Sprinkle)
risperidone (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Perseris Kit) (Risperdal) (Risperdal Consta)
scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
secobarbital (Seconal)
sulindac
temazepam (Restoril)
terazosin (avoid using for treatment of hypertension)
testosterone (avoid unless used for confirmed hypogonadism)(Androderm) (Androgel) (Aveed) (Fortesta) (Natesto) (Striant) (Testim) (Vogelxo) (Xyosted)
thioridazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)
thiothixene (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)
tolmetin
triazolam (Halcion)
trifluoperazine (avoid use, except in schizophrenia)
trihexyphenidyl
trimipramine
triprolidine
zaleplon (Sonata)
ziprasidone (avoid use, except in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)(Geodon)
zolpidem (Ambien) (Ambien CR) (Edluar) (Intermezzo) (Zolpimist)