What is Beers criteria for older adults?

The AGS Beers Criteria^® include the same five main categories as in 2015: (1) potentially inappropriate medications in older adults; (2) potentially inappropriate medications to avoid in older adults with certain conditions; (3) medications to be used with considerable caution in older adults; (4) medication ...

What does Beers Criteria stand for?

The Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, commonly called the Beers List, are guidelines for healthcare professionals to help improve the safety of prescribing medications for older adults 65 years and older in all except palliative setting.

What drugs are listed on the Beers Criteria due to reactions in older adults?

The top six medications of the Beers list most commonly used by the elderly in this study were metoclopramide, ketoprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, insulin, ipratropium bromide, and clonazepam, which accounted for more than 64.0% of the total use of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults.

What are 5 drugs to avoid in the elderly Dr Beers Criteria?

antihistamines (A, H): brompheniramine, carbinoxamine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, dexchlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine (oral), doxylamine, hydroxyzine (see CNS section for meclizine) Anticholinergic effects (e.g., confusion, cognitive impairment, delirium, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention).

Can I still use a drug from the AGS Beers List in older adults?

A: No. Being on the AGS Beers Criteria^® does not mean that the medication is unsafe for all adults 65 or older. It means that these medications may be inappropriate for older people because: They pose higher risks of side effects OR may have limited effectiveness in older adults.

The Beers List: The "Must Know" List When Caring for Older Adults (Ep #031)

What age is the Beers list for?

The primary target audience for the AGS Beers Criteria® is practicing clinicians. The criteria are intended for use in adults 65 years and older in all ambulatory, acute, and institutionalized settings of care, except for the hospice and palliative care settings.

Who does the Beers Criteria apply to?

TARGET POPULATION: The AGS Beers Criteria^® are to be used in the care of older adults >65 years of age in all ambulatory, acute, and institutional care settings.

What medications should elderly avoid?

What is the most common inappropriately prescribed drug to the elderly?

Diphenhydramine and amitriptiline are the most common inappropriately prescribed medications with high risk adverse events while propoxyphene and doxazoxin are the most commonly prescribed medications with low risk adverse events.

Is ibuprofen on the Beers list?

Long-term use of NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen, is also on the list. The Beers List notes that they can increase the risk of gastrointestinal issues, like ulcers and indigestion, increase blood pressure and affect your kidneys.

How many medications are on the Beers list?

Based on an extensive review of more than 1,400 studies, the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria® includes five lists of nearly 100 medications or medication classes to avoid or use with caution for some or all older adults.

Is Xanax on Beers list?

Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) should be avoided [we previously reported on the risks of benzodiazepine use in older adults], as should certain antidepressants, pain relievers like Demerol, and even some over the counter products containing the ...

Is gabapentin on the Beers list?

Gabapentinoids, pregabalin and gabapentin, were recommended only in low doses in the last Beers Criteria due to ataxia and falls and received an additional recommendation to avoid in combination with opioids because of sedation, respiratory depression, and death. They are acceptable to use when tapering opioids.

What percentage of older adults take 5 or more medications?

Among U.S. adults aged 40–79, 69.0% used one or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days and 22.4% used five or more (Figure 1).

How often is the Beers Criteria updated?

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® were updated recently, as they are every three years, by an interdisciplinary panel of geriatric experts.

What is the safest blood pressure medicine for the elderly?

There is no age threshold beyond which hypertension should not be treated. Thiazide diuretics are first-line therapy for isolated systolic hypertension, and they should be considered in any antihypertensive regimen in older persons.

What is the safest antidepressant for the elderly?

SSRIs considered to have the best safety profile in the elderly are citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline.

Why is Benadryl not recommended for over 65?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and hydroxyzine are common examples of anticholinergic medications that are not cleared as well from the system in older people. This can lead to confusion, dry mouth, and constipation.

What are the 9 common senior pills now linked to Alzheimer's disease?

An estimated 47 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2015, while in the United States around 5.7 million people have Alzheimer dementia, according to the study. Anticholergenic drugs include, but are not limited to, Artane, Bentyl, Oxytrol, Neosol, Symax and Vesicare.

Can Tylenol cause confusion in the elderly?

Safer Medications to Consider

Many prescription and non-prescription or over-the-counter medications (e.g., diphenhydramine [Tylenol PM^®, Advil PM^®, Benadryl^®]) can worsen the chemical imbalance common in memory problems and cause significant confusion and a risk of falls.

Can Tylenol cause memory loss?

We also found that a single 50 mg/kg injection of acetaminophen significantly increased p42 ERK phosphorylation in the dorsal mouse hippocampus. Overall, these results suggest that a single dose of acetaminophen can have significant effects on memory and alters signaling kinases critical for memory consolidation.

Is lorazepam on the Beers List?

As a result of the study, specific standing orders were changed to eliminate any benzodiazepines listed in the Beers criteria (including potentially inappropriate dosages for short-acting agents). Lorazepam was the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine in the current study.

What does Beers stand for drugs?

When you hear something called a “Beers drug” or hear someone say that a drug is on the “Beers list” it refers to medications that could be potentially inappropriate for use in older adults.

When was the Beers Criteria last updated?

In January 2019, AGS published the latest update to the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. This update includes specific recommendations for a medication or therapeutic class that should not be considered or should be used with caution in older adults.