Certain Medications Make Falls More Likely

The elderly are more likely than younger adults to be on multiple medications. Some don’t affect fall risk much, but others are known risk factors for increasing the chance of a fall.

Obviously, any that have side effects of lightheadedness, dizziness or confusion will increase fall risk. It would not surprise many people to find that cold medicines, potent pain medications and sleeping pills are on the ‘high risk’ list. Other medications, such as those taken for blood pressure, are more unexpected culprits, however.

The addition of a new medication can make the risk greater and certainly, combinations of drugs are usually more dangerous than single drugs.

Some drugs classically known to increase the risk of falling in senior citizens are:

• Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines
• Antihypertensives (blood pressure medicine)
• Steroid medicines (prednisone, etc)
• Anti-seizure medicine
• Some diabetes medicines

The risk of falling increases significantly for senior adults on four or more medicines. Careful and regular evaluation of prescription and over-the-counter medicines and their dosages can help to minimize accidental fall and injury risk.

The nurses at Partners in Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home senior care needs including how to stay healthy at home with RN managed affordable care. We are a personal home care agency that provides elder home care serves in the Orlando area, call us at 407-788-9393.