Medicine and its effect on the risk of falls
Falls are a serious health issue when you are 65 years or older, as they commonly lead to quite serious injuries.
There are many factors that can increase the risk of falling, such as age, gender, environmental hazards, vision problems and balance disorders. One factor that is often overlooked is medicine - it is among the most common causes of an increased risk of falls in older adults.
Polypharmacy
Polypharmacy, which means taking more than three or four medicines at the same time, is very common for older adults. It can increase the risk of falls because it makes it more likely that the medicines you use will have negative side-effects or interactions.
- A 2017 study found that, over a two-year period, almost one third of the participants taking five or more medicines had a higher rate of falls than those who took fewer medicines. The study also suggested that more research is needed to understand how different combinations of medicine affect the risk of falling in real-life situations.
Medicine associated with an increased risk of falls
Medicine which can increase the risk of falls includes:
- Medicine that affects the brain
- Medicine that affects blood pressure.
Doctors can miss medicine-based risks for falls, so it's important that you, or your caregiver pay close attention to the medicine you are taking and mention it to your healthcare professional when they are prescribing new medicine for you. Remember to tell them about any medicine you may have bought over the counter, if you are using it on a regular basis.