Psychiatric drugs are overprescribed to seniors, and the consequences are often devastating

You wouldn’t think this would require a study. Seems to me, it’s common sense.

But nonetheless, new research actually proves that seniors are significantly more likely to fall when they use psychiatric drugs. These drugs include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and sleep aids.

Now, it’s probably true that everyone is more likely to fall when they’re drugged up. But the danger for seniors is much more serious — even deadly.

It’s no surprise (and doesn’t require a multi-year study) that when seniors fall, they are more likely to break a hip or an arm. Or even to hit their heads.

And the vicious cycle kicks in from there. Before you know it, you’re incapacitated, your strength wanes, and your quality of life plummets.

All too often this kicks off a cascading effect that leads to permanent long-term care, a series of illnesses and, far too often, death.

Make sure that you or other seniors in your life are not taking these drugs unless they are absolutely critical. The risk from a fall can be far greater than what the drug was supposed to treat in the first place.

Sources:
“Psychiatric drugs tied to falls in the elderly” Genevra Pittman, Reuters Health, reuters.com