Medications of Risk

Problems

May cause falls

Benzodiazepines (antianxiety),
Long acting agents
Diazepam (Valium)
Flurazepam (Dalmane )
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Barbiturates

Confusion, sedation and falls.

Antidepressants (used to treat depression),
Amitryptiline (Elavil)
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Imipramine (Tofranil)

Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, and urinary retention.

Antipsychotic Agents (used to treat mental disorders)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Thioridazine (Mellaril)
Haloperidol (Haldol)

Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, urinary retention, Parkinsonism (involuntary shaking and twitching), tardive dyskinesia (TD).

Antihistamines (used to treat sinus problems and allergies)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, and urinary retention (inability to empty bladder), sleep disturbance.

Antiemetics (used to relieve nausea)
Promethazine (Phenergan)
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Thiethylperazine (Torecan)

Confusion, sedation, hypotension, falls, urinary retention, Parkinsonism (involuntary tremors and rigidity), involuntary movement (tardive dyskinesia)

Analgesics (used to relieve pain)
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Meperidine (Demerol)

Constipation, confusion, & sedation.

Antiparkinsonian (used to treat Parkinsons disease)
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet)

Confusion, dizziness, hypotension, increase in cardiovascular toxicity.

Cardiovascular drugs (used to treat heart and blood vessels)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss.Bleeding tendencies (requires close monitoring)

Antispasmodic drugs (used to prevent or relieve spasms)
Dicyclomine (Bentyl)
Hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex)
Pro-Banthine (Propantheline)

Dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, delirium.

Urinary Incontinence drugs
Oxybutynin (Ditropan)
Tolterodine (Detrol)

Dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, delirium, confusion

Psychoactive drugs have an effect on the brain and are among the most frequent medications given to the elderly. Elderly patients generally require lower doses of psychoactive drugs, in some cases one-fourth to one-half the dose of a younger patient.³

Examples of Psychoactive Drugs:
Anti-psychotics
Anti-anxiety drugs
Sedatives/hypnotics
Anti-depressants

Psychoactive drugs are not the only type of medication that can produce dangerous side effects. Drugs that relieve pain (analgesics), drugs that act on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular drugs), drugs that relieve nausea (anti-emetics), and drugs that relieve allergies (antihistamines) also have the potential to produce negative side effects by acting on the brain.