Popular medicines can be very dangerous for the elderly

When it comes to the drugs we are prescribed, we usually don't think twice. After all, the doctor knows best. However, many medicines can affect people in different ways depending on various factors, meaning that these pills can be safe for some and dangerous for others. Some commonly prescribed medications are often dangerous for people over 65, according to recent research. The edition told in more detail Best life online.

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Researchers at the University of Buffalo tried to study the correlation between prescription drug-induced falls mortality among people 65 and older between 1999 and 2017. The findings were published on February 3 in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.

More than 563 million people aged 65 and over received at least one medication that affects the vestibular system and increases the risk of falling in 2017, according to the study, which is 94% of people in this age group.

Many common medications can be classified as "fall risk increases"

Medicines that increase the risk of falling include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, opioids, sedatives, and benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax.

The most commonly prescribed drugs that increase the risk of falls in older adults are antihypertensives, which are used to treat high blood pressure, according to the study. However, the researchers also said that there has been a sharp increase in the use of antidepressants, from 12 million prescriptions in 1999 to more than 52 million in 2017.

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“The increase in antidepressant use seen in this study is likely due to the use of these drugs as safer alternatives to older medications,” said lead researcher Amy Shaver. “However, it is important to note that these medications continue to be associated with an increased risk of falls and fractures among older adults.”

Thousands of people aged 65 and over die each year from falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among people aged 65 and over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the department, the death rate after falls is about 64 deaths per 100 people.

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According to the CDC, one in four people in the United States aged 65 and over reports a fall each year. According to statistics, about three million people visit emergency departments every year.

Both the number of prescribed drugs that increase the risk of falls and the number of deaths from falls are on the rise

Researchers say that the percentage of people 65 and older receiving at least one prescription for drugs that increase their risk of falls rose from 57% in 1999 to 94% in 2017. According to the study, “drugs that increase the risk of falls may partially explain the increased mortality due to falls,” but this cannot be conclusively confirmed by the current study.

“Our study points to two trends that are increasing simultaneously at the population level that should be considered at the individual level,” Shaver said. “We hope this will lead to more conversations in medical circles about the pros and cons of medications prescribed to vulnerable populations.”

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Where in the USA to buy the medicines we are used to: a list of pharmacies

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