OhioHealth Medical Minute: Medication and Falls

Preventing falls is one way to help seniors maintain their independence and help them live a long, active life. Falls are the leading cause of death among people over the age of 65 – a quarter of seniors who break a hip in a fall die within six months. Fortunately, this can be prevented. One way to help? Looking at the medications you or a loved one are taking.

The Ohio Department of Aging has designated the first week of April as “A Prescription to Prevent Falls” week – a chance to look at the link between medication and falls in seniors. They’re encouraging patients to talk with their doctors or pharmacists about the link between their medications and their risk for falls. In this latest OhioHealth Medical Minute, we talk to David Robinson, a clinical pharmacist at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, about what patients – especially those over the age of 60 – need to consider when looking at their prescriptions.

Some tips? Ask if interactions between medications you are taking could make you dizzy or drowsy, which can lead to a fall. Medications that affect the brain, blood pressure and/or blood sugar are all possible links to an increased fall risk. So are sleep or anxiety medications.

Your care team may also be able to stop certain medications when possible, or even switch you to an alternative in some cases, that doesn’t have the same side effects. If you need to still be on the medication, ask if reducing to a lower dose would be a possibility.

You can watch the video above to learn more.

In need of a physician? Click here to visit our “Find a Doctor” page to find a provider near you.