The list of risky drugs that everyone over 65 needs to check

If you or someone in your family is over 65, you really ought to be consulting the Beers list.

No, it’s not a menu of lite and regular brews, but rather a list of drugs that older people are best off avoiding.

Several years ago a study out of Duke University found that at least one in five people over 65 was taking at least one “drug of concern.”

And no doubt by now, the numbers are much higher.

Not only are these “inappropriate” drugs dangerous all on their own, but the more drugs you’re taking, the higher the risk of having a serious interaction.

That’s where the Beers list comes in.

It was originally compiled back in the’90s as a listing of dangerous drugs given to nursing home residents. It has since been revised to include 28 types of drugs that all older people should avoid like the plague.

And some of the most important ones to steer clear of are the meds that will increase your risk of falling – something that can become a death sentence for many.

In fact, these mood-and-mind-altering drugs — ones like Valium, Abilify, Risperdal and Seroquel — top the list of meds to shun.

But it’s not just sedatives and antidepressants that are risky for seniors.

Many meds on the “inappropriate” list are for treating allergies and eczema, Parkinson’s disease, A-fib and muscle cramps.

Although it doesn’t appear that the Beers list has been updated since 2012, meaning newly approved drugs may not be on it, it’s still a good rundown of the (many) meds that are just too dangerous to take.

To check if any drugs you or a loved one are taking are on the list, click here.

Source:

“Potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults” healthinaging.org