Medications that increase the risk of falling in older adults

Falls are the main cause of adult lesions 65 years of age or older. Between 30% and 40% of older adults fall every year. The consequences of falls can be serious. They can lead to a lower quality of life, a loss of independence, a greater risk of admission to a home of the elderly and death. Falls can also be expensive.

There are many factors that can increase the risk of falls. The main risk factors include:

• Age.
• Conditions such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease.
• One or more previous falls.
• Taking one or more medications.
• Problems with movement, cognition or vision.

Medications and fall risk

The side effects of medications that increase the risk of falls include:

• Confusion.
• Fatigue.
• Hyponatremia, a condition in which blood sodium levels are low.
• A change in heart rate or heart rate.
• Orthostatic hypotension (OH), a fall in blood pressure when a person gets up after sitting or going to bed.
• Sedation.
• Balance problems.

Many medications have side effects that can increase the risk of falls. Taking more than one of these medications further increases risk. Common medications that can increase falling risk include:

• Benzodiazepines and other hypnuidos. Hypnose are used to treat sleep disorders and anxiety conditions. Benzodiazepines are the most common hypnuidas. Other examples include the “Z-Drogus” Zolpidem (Ambien), Eszopiclone (Monday) and Zaleplon. Older adults who have hypnosesis have a higher risk of falling. This risk increases after a new recipe or with long -term use.
• Medications used to treat depression. Also known as antidepressants, these medications treat depression and other conditions, such as anxiety. Taking certain antidepressants increases the risk of falls due to its sedative side effects. Taking more than one makes the risk even greater.
• Medications used to treat psychosis. Also known as antipsychotics, these medications treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Antipsychotics carry a risk of OH, which can increase the risk of falling. More research is needed to completely understand how these medications can increase the risk of falls.
• Medications used to treat seizures. Also known as antiepileptics, these medications are used to treat and prevent seizures. Taking antiepileptics increases the risk of falling due to its sedative side effects. Antiepileptics can also cause bone thinning. This increases the risk of more serious fractures during a fall.
• Muscle relaxants. These medications are used to treat muscle spasms and pain. Taking a muscle relaxant increases the risk of falls due to its sedative effects. Of all muscle relaxants, baclofen has been associated with the greatest risk of falls.
• Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medications. Commonly known as NSAIDs, these medications are used to treat pain and inflammation. NSAIDs increase the risk of falls in older adults due to their effect on blood pressure.
• Opioids These medications are used to treat pain. They can be prescribed after surgery or continuous pain. Opioids increase the risk of falls because they cause sedation, dizziness and problems with thought. The risk may be greater if it has a strong dose of opioid or if you are taking more than one medication.

Other medications can increase the risk of falls. To reduce the risk of falling, medications such as opioids and antidepressants may need to slowly reduce and finally stop. However, stopping medications could create a greater risk of health problems. For some people, the benefits of taking certain medications exceed the risks. Talk to your health professional before stopping any medication. Your health professional must review your medications once a year to make sure they fit your needs.

January 30, 2025

Show references

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