Medications put adults at risk for falling

Being aware of the dangers can help people take precautions.

The vast majority of older adults are taking medications that are known to increase the likelihood of falling, research has found.

Among drugs that increase the likelihood of falls, blood-pressure drugs known as antihypertensives are prescribed the most often, according to the research published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety.

But prescriptions for antidepressants also have “increased dramatically,” the researchers wrote, going from 12 million to 52 million filled prescriptions and from 7 to 16% of older people taking them by 2017.

Other drugs that raise the risk for falling include anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, opioids, sedatives, antihistamines and some tranquilizers. Besides being aware of the pros and cons of medications being taken by older adults, the ways to reduce their risk for falling include exercising to improve balance and muscle strength and making living space changes, such as improving lighting, removing throw rugs, adding grab bars in the bathroom and wearing an electronic pendant that can be buzzed for help if needed.

94%

Percentage of Americans 65 and older who are taking medications that increase the likelihood of falling. Though prescribed to treat such conditions as high blood pressure, depression, sleep problems or pain, the drugs often come with potential side effects that can lead to falls, including lightheadedness, reduced alertness, slowed reaction times and drowsiness.

7.8 billion

Number of prescriptions for such medications filled in an 18-year span, increasing how many people take these drugs from 57% in 1999 to 94% in 2017. In that same time period, the rate of deaths caused by falls among older adults more than doubled.

1in4

Adults who report falling each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 20% of those falls result in a serious injury, such as a hip fracture or head trauma. The agency says that falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults.