Page 26 - Senior Times South Central Michigan June 2023 - 30-06

Page 26 Senior Times - June 2023
COMMON MEDICATIONS THAT INCREASE FALL RISK
Summary Provided by Daily Caring
To reduce your older adult’s fall risk, regular medication reviews are essential. That’s because many commonly used drugs are associated with an increase in fall risk.
Falls are a major reason for seniors to lose independence and mobility. More than one in four older adults fall each year, often causing serious injury.
Geriatrician Dr. Leslie Kernisan explains which medications to watch out for and why they could cause seniors to fall. Having this information helps you work with your older adult’s doctor to try to reduce or eliminate the use of these drugs. At the very least, you’ll be able to confirm that the benefits of a medication is worth the risk. Note: These are only summaries.
sometimes still used but can cause challenges for the person with dementia.
Medications That Affect Blood Pressure – These types of drugs can cause or worsen a sudden fall in blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure can increase fall risk by making someone feel dizzy or faint.
4. Anticonvulsants (seizure medications) and Mood Stabilizers – Depakote (valproic acid) is a mood stabilizer that is sometimes used to manage difficult behaviors in Alzheimer’s or other demen- tias. Neurontin (gabapentin) is another seizure medi- cation often used to treat nerve pain.
8. Antihypertensives – Usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Research linking these drugs with falls have mixed results, but many ger- iatricians and other experts recommend including these for review.
5. Antidepressants – Usually prescribed to treat depression or anxiety. Common drugs include: Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Remeron, Wellbutrin, and Effexor (generic names: sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, bupropion, and venlafaxine).
9. Other Medications That Affect Blood Pressure – Alpha-blockers are often prescribed to help men with enlarged prostate urinate. Common drugs include: Flomax, Hytrin, Cardura, and Minipress (tamsulosin, terazosin, doxazosin, and prazosin).
Medications That Affect Brain Function –
Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil and Pamelor (amitryptiline and nortriptyline) are anticholinergic so they’re not used for depression, but are some- times used to manage nerve pain.
Medications That Lower Blood Sugar – Older adults who have diabetes take medication to lower blood sugar. Low blood sugar caused by these medi- cations is associated with increased falls.
These drugs are often called psychoactives. They affect brain function and tend to cause drowsiness. They can also cause or worsen confusion, especially in people with memory problems or dementia.
Trazodone, an older antidepressant, is typically used as a mild sleep aid.
10. Medications That Lower Blood Sugar – Most diabetes medications can cause or worsen hypoglycemia (blood sugar that’s too low).
1. Benzodiazepines – Usually prescribed to help people sleep or to help with anxiety. Common drugs include: Ativan, Valium, Restoril, and Xanax (generic names: lorazepam, diazepam, temazepam, and alprazolam).
6. Opioid (narcotic) Pain Relievers – Opioids often cause drowsiness and other side-effects. Research linking opioids with falls have mixed results, but experts like the CDC recommend that narcotics should be evaluated when working to reduce fall risk. Common drugs include: codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone.
The CDC recommends that seniors STOP medications when possible, SWITCH to safer alternatives, or REDUCE medications to the low- est effective dose.
Warning: It can be dangerous to stop benzodi- azepines suddenly. They should always be tapered under medical supervision.
7. Anticholinergics – This group includes a large number of drugs that are anticholinergic, like most over-the-counter sleeping aids and many other pre- scription drugs. These drugs include: antihistamines like Benadryl, “PM” versions of over-the-counter pain relievers (Nyquil, Tylenol PM); overactive bladder medications like Ditropan and Detrol; med- ications for vertigo, motion sickness, or nausea like Dramamine, Antivert, Scopace, and Phenergan; anti- itch meds like Vistaril (hydroxyzine); and muscle relaxants like Flexaril (cyclobenzaprine); tricyclic antidepressants, and Paxil.
Your older adult’s doctor should carefully con- sider the pros and cons of using a medication linked to increased fall risk. Sometimes, the benefits to their health and well-being will be worth it. In other cases, an alternative may be a better choice.
2. Non-benzodiazepine Prescription Sedatives
– Usually prescribed to treat insomnia or trou-
ble with sleep. Common drugs include: Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta (generic names: zolpidem, zale- plon, and eszopiclone).
When one of these medications is being used, doctors should regularly review the need for and dosage of those drugs.
3. Antipsychotics – Usually prescribed to con- trol challenging behaviors in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Sometimes prescribed to people with depression. Common antipsychotics are mainly second-generation, including Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Abilify (generic names: risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, and aripiprazole). Haldol (haloperidol), a first-generation antipsychotic, is
Research linking these drugs with falls have mixed results, but because they cause drowsiness and other serious side effects, experts include them for review when working to reduce fall risk.
If your older adult is currently taking one of these medications, don’t make any changes without talking with their doctor. Suddenly discontinuing
a drug could cause serious harm. And even if a drug they’re taking is associated with increased fall risk, it doesn’t always mean that your older adult shouldn’t take them.
Helping Seniors Make the Right
Housing Choice
SENIOR HOUSING
GUIDE
= CITY ✚ = MED MANAGEMENT  = EMERGENCY CALL
1
CALHOUN COUNTY MEDICAL CARE FACILITY
1150 East Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49014 (269) 962-5458
120
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2
CHERRY HILL MANOR
10 Clay St., Battle Creek, MI 49017 Melinda, (269) 965-0591
150
•
•
•
•
•
•
3
EVERGREEN SENIOR CARE & REHAB CENTER
111 Evergreen Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037 Caleb Angus, (269) 969-6110
91
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
4
KELLOGG MANOR
250 Champion St., Battle Creek, MI 49017 Melinda, (269) 965-0591
70
•
•
•
•
•
•
5
HARVEST POINTE AT THORNAPPLE MANOR
2700 Nashville Rd., Hastings, MI 49058 Lyn Briel, (269) 945-2407
70
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
6
LAKEVIEW ASSISTED LIVING
14661 Helmer Road South, Battle Creek, MI 49015 Christi Losinski, (269) 969-8900
61
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
7
LAURELS OF BEDFORD
270 Bedford Road North, Battle Creek, MI 49037 Leslie Gardner, (269) 968-2296
111
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
8
LEGACY AT THE OAKS
706 North Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017 (269) 964-4655
30
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9
MAJESTIC OF BATTLE CREEK
200 East Roosevelt Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49037 Jennifer Andrews, (269) 965-3327
65
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
10
MAPLE LAWN MEDICAL CARE FACILITY
50 Sanderson Lane, Coldwater, MI 49036 Jayne Sabaitis, (517) 279-9587
114
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
NUMBER OF UNITS INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING SKILLED NURSING ALZHEIMER / DEMENTIA RESPITE CARE
ADULT DAY CARE PETS
RESIDENT PARKING TRANSPORTATION PRIVATE PAY NURSE ON DUTY REHAB
LONG TERM STAY SHORT TERM STAY MEDICATION DELIVERY LAUNDRY HOUSEKEEPING ACTIVITIES
100% MEALS
24 HOUR STAFFING LICENSED FACILITY SPECIFIC DIET PLANS