Medication and Falls
Original Editors - Scott Buxton
Top Contributors -Scott Buxton, Lucinda hampton, Sai Kripa, Kim Jackson, WikiSysop, Evan Thomas and Chelsea Mclene
What is a Fall?[edit | edit source]
What is Polypharmacy?[edit | edit source]
Medications Associated with Increased Risk of Falls[edit | edit source]
Medication Group | Overall Risk Category | Commonly Used Medications | Effects on Risk |
Sedatives |
HIGH RISK Can cause falls alone |
Lorazepam, Temazepam, Nitrazepam similar -epamsuffix |
Drowsiness, slows reactions, impaired balance. |
Sedating Antidepressants |
HIGH RISK Can cause falls alone |
Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline | Orthostatic hypotension, drowsiness, slow reactions. DOUBLE THE RATE OF FALLS |
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors |
HIGH RISK Can cause falls alone |
Phenelzine, Moclobemide | Severe orthostatic hypotension |
For Psychosis Agitation |
HIGH RISK Can cause falls alone |
Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine, Olanzapine | Orthostatic hypotension, slow reflexes, loss of balance |
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor )SNRI) |
MODERATE RISK Can cause falls in combination |
Fluoxetine, Sertaline, Paroxetine, Venlafaxine, Duloetine | Increased risk of falls with fractures, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, impaired sleep quality |
Opiate Analegsics |
HIGH RISK Can cause falls alone |
Codeine, Morphine, Tramadol | Sedates, slows reactions, impairs balance, delirium |
Anti Epileptics | HIGH RISK | Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Phenobarbitone | Cerebellar damage, ataxia, slowed reactions |
MODERATE RISK | Sodium Valporate, Gabapentin | Some association with falls risk | |
Parkinson's Disease - Dopamine Agonists | HIGH RISK | Roprinerole, Pramipexole | Delirium, orthostatic hypotension |
Parkinson's Disease - MAOI-B Inhibitors | HIGH RISK | Selegiline | Orthostatic hypotension (Difficult to assess due to high falls risk in PD as the disease process) |
Muscle Relaxant | MODERATE RISK | Baclofen | Reduced muscle tone, sedative |
Vestibular Sedative | POSSIBLE CAUSES | Prochlorperazine, Cinnarazine, Betahistine | Prochlor... - Dopamine agonist which may cause movement disorder in long term, sedating |
Anticholinergics acting on Bladder | POSSIBLE CAUSES | Oxybutinin, Solifenacin, Tolterodine, Solifenacin | Known CNS effects. |
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Darowski A. Dwight J. Reynolds J. Medicines and Falls in Hospital: Guidance Sheet [ONLINE] available from https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/medicines-and-falls2.pdf date accessed 14/01/2015