Some Disorders and Symptoms That Can Be Worsened by Drugs in Older People
Disorder or Symptom | Drugs |
|---|---|
Antipsychotic drugs Corticosteroids | |
Fainting or orthostatic hypotension (sudden decrease in blood pressure when a person stands up) | |
Peptic ulcer disease or stomach bleeding | |
Urinary incontinence in women | |
Urinary retention or urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate (such as slow urinary flow, frequent urination of smaller amounts, and dribbling) | Drugs with anticholinergic effects*, cold remedies containing decongestants, or a combination of antihistamines and decongestants |
* Anticholinergic effects include confusion, blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth, light-headedness and loss of balance, and difficulty starting to urinate. COX-2 inhibitors = coxibs; NSAIDs = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Adapted from The American Geriatrics Society 2019 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel: American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67(4):674-694, 2019. doi:10.1111/jgs.15767 | |