Many commonly prescribed drugs taken by older adults can raise risk of falls

Half of the 20 most commonly prescribed medications taken by older adults may raise the risk of falls, according to new research.

Many commonly prescribed drugs taken by older adults
can raise risk of falls.

Painkillers and antidepressants were most strongly tied to a greater likelihood of being injured in a fall, the study of 64,000 Swedes over age 65 found. Severe injuries were significantly more common with 11 out of the 20 medications studied.

The risk of fall injury in relation to commonly prescribed medications among older people—a Swedish case-control study (Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden).

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More than 40 million people in the U.S. are over 65 years old, an age group that tends to take a large number of prescription drugs. Fully one third take eight or more medications daily, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Can Meds for Seniors Cause a Tumble?

Older people not only consume more medication but they also represent a group at high risk for adverse effects such as injurious falls. This study examines the association between the medications most commonly prescribed to older people and fall injuries. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1AbFq0O The European Journal of Public Health