Many factors are associated with falls in the elderly, including frailty, disease, vision, polypharmacy, and certain medications. Below is a list of drugs associated with falls. Assess geriatric patients on these medications for fall risk and implement fall reduction strategies
- Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists
- Antihistamines/Antinauseants
- scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop)
- Antiparkinsonian Agents
- levodopa/carbidopa (Duopa) (Rytary) (Sinemet) (Sinemet CR)
- Benzodiazepines (Long-Acting)
- Benzodiazepines (Intermediate-Acting)
- Benzodiazepines (Short-Acting)
- Diuretics
- amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide
- triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide) ( Maxzide)
- Opioid Analgesics
- fentanyl (Abstral) (Actiq) (Duragesic) (Fentora) (Ionsys) (Lazanda) (Sublimaze) (Subsys)
- Vasodilators
- isosorbide dinitrate/mononitrate (Dilatrate SR) (Isordil) (Monoket)
American Geriatrics Society, British Geriatrics Society, and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Panel on Falls Prevention. Guideline for the prevention of falls in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 49:664-672, 2001.
Keys PA. Preventing falls in the elderly: the role of the pharmacist. J Pharm Pract. 17(2):149-152, 2004.
Cooper JW, Burfield AH. Medication interventions for fall prevention in the older adult. J Am Pharm Assoc. 49:e70-84, 2009.