Drugs Associated with Increased Risk of Falls in the Elderly

Many factors are associated with falls in the elderly, including frailty, disease, vision, polypharmacy, and certain medications. Below is a list of drugs associated with falls. Assess geriatric patients on these medications for fall risk and implement fall reduction strategies.

ACE Inhibitors

benazepril (Lotensin)

captopril (Capoten)

enalapril (Vasotec)

fosinopril (Monopril)

lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)

moexipril (Univasc)

perindopril (Aceon)

quinapril (Accupril)

ramipril (Altace)

trandolapril (Mavik)

Antipsychotics (Atypical)

aripiprazole (Abilify)

clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo)

olanzapine (Zyprexa)

paliperidone (Invega)

quetiapine (Seroquel)

risperidone (Risperdal)

ziprasidone (Geodon)

Beta Blockers

acebutolol (Sectral)

atenolol (Tenormin)

bisoprolol (Zebeta)

carvedilol (Coreg)

labetalol (Trandate)

metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)

propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL)

timolol

Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists

candesartan (Atacand)

eprosartan (Teveten)

irbesartan (Avapro)

losartan (Cozaar)

olmesartan (Benicar)

telmisartan (Micardis)

valsartan (Diovan)

Antipsychotics (Neuroleptics)

chlorpromazine

fluphenazine

haloperidol (Haldol)

loxapine (Loxitane)

molindone (Moban)

perphenazine

pimozide (Orap)

thioridazine

thiothixine (Navane)

trifluoperazine

Calcium Channel Blockers

amlodipine (Norvasc)

diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia XT, Dilacor XR, Taztia XT, Tiazac)

felodipine

isradipine (DynaCirc CR)

nicardipine (Cardene)

nifedipine (Adalat CC, Afeditab CC, Procardia XL)

nisoldipine (Sular)

verapamil (Calan, Covera HS, Isoptin, Verelan)

Antiarrhythmics

digoxin (Lanoxin)

disopyramide (Norpace)

Anxiolytics

buspirone (Buspar)

meprobamate

Diuretics

amiloride/HCTZ

bumetanide furosemide (Lasix)

hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)

triamterene/HCTZ (Dyazide, Maxzide)

Anticonvulsants

carbamazepine (Tegretol)

ethosuximide (Zarontin)

felbamate (Felbatol)

gabapentin (Neurontin)

lamotrigine (Lamictal)

levetiracetam (Keppra)

methsuximide (Celontin)

phenobarbital (Luminal)

phenytoin (Dilantin)

pregabalin (Lyrica)

primidone (Mysoline)

tiagabine (Gabatril)

topiramate (Topamax)

valproate (Depakene, Depakote, Stavzor)

zonisamide (Zonegran)

Benzodiazepines (Long Acting)

chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

clonazepam (Klonopin)

clorazepate (Tranxene)

diazepam (Valium)

flurazepam (Dalmane)

quazepam (Doral)

Opioid Analgesics

codeine

Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze)

hydrocodone

hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran)

meperidine (Demerol)

methadone (Dolophine)

morphine (Avinza, DepoDur, Duramorph, Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, Roxanol)

oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone)

oxymorphone (Opana)

pentazocine (Talwin)

propoxyphene (Darvon)

Antidepressants

amitriptyline (Elavil)

amoxapine bupropion (Aplenzin,Wellbutrin)

citalopram (Celexa)

clomipramine (Anafranil)

desipramine (Norpramin)

doxepin

duloxetine (Cymbalta)

escitalopram (Lexapro)

fluoxetine (Prozac)

fluvoxamine (Luvox)

imipramine (Tofranil)

isocarboxazid (Marplan)

maprotiline

mirtazapine (Remeron)

nefazodone

paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)

phenelzine (Nardil)

protriptyline (Vivactil)

sertraline (Zoloft)

tranylcypromine (Parnate)

trazodone

trimipramine (Surmontil)

venlafaxine (Effexor)

Benzodiazepines (Intermediate Acting)

alprazolam (Niravam, Xanax)

estazolam (Prosom)

lorazepam (Ativan)

oxazepam (Serax)

temazepam (Restoril)

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Baclofen (Lioresal)

Antihistamines/Antinauseants

dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

meclizine (Antivert, Bonine)

metoclopramide (Metozolv ODT, Reglan)

prochlorperazine (Compro)

promethazine (Promethegan)

scopolamine patch (TransdermScop)

Benzodiazepines (Short Acting)

triazolam (Halcion)

Vasodilators

doxazosin (Cardura)

hydralazine

isosorbide (Dilatrate SR, Imdur, Ismo, Isordil, Monoket)

nitroglycerin (Minitran, Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat)

prazosin (Minipress)

terazosin (Hytrin)

Antiparkinsonian Agents

amantadine (Symmetrel)

bromocriptine (Parlodel)

entacapone (Comtan)

levodopa/carbidopa (Parcopa,Sinemet)

pramipexole (Mirapex)

selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar)