Hi readers, a
serious issue is overmedication of older adults and/or taking medications that
cannot be adequately metabolized by the older body. Never assume that medical professionals know
appropriate dosage or if the prescribed medication is appropriate for you. Be proactive and ASK, “Is this aligned with
the Beers list?” Some medications on
this list are over-the-counter medications, so pay attention to what you take
and how much. Below is a blurb about the
Beers list and I have also attached the link for the updated list here. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/beers/BeersCriteriaPublicTranslation.pdf
What is the Beers List and Why Do I Need it?
“For more than 20 years, the Beers Criteria for Potentially
Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults has been the leading source of
information about the safety of prescribing drugs for older people. To help
prevent medication side effects and other drug-related problems in older
adults, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has updated and expanded this
important resource. The expanded AGS Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially
Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults identifies medications with risks
that may be greater than their benefits for people 65 and older. “
Why Experts Developed the Beers Criteria
“As you get older, your body changes. These changes can increase
the chances that you’ll have side effects when you take medications. Older
people usually have more health problems and take more medications than younger
people. Because of this, they are also more likely to experience dangerous
drug-drug interactions. Every year, one in three adults 65 or older has one or
more adverse (harmful) reactions to a medication or medications. This is why
it’s important for researchers to identify and help reduce use of drugs that
are associated with more risks than benefits in older people. The Beers
Criteria was last updated in 2003. The criteria need to be updated regularly
because new drugs continue to be marketed and new studies continue to provide
information on the safety of existing medications. In 2011, the criteria was
updated by the American Geriatrics Society using a panel of healthcare and
pharmacy experts. The AGS will continue to update the criteria on a regular
basis.”
